The Madre Fire in California’s San Luis Obispo County ignited around 13:00 LT on July 2, 2025, and burned through 14 370 ha (35 531 acres) by early July 3. Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued for multiple zones as strong winds and high temperatures continue to fuel rapid fire growth. This is the largest wildfire in California in 2025 to date.
A lightning-sparked Horse Fire, located west of Lakehead, California, has burned about 160 ha (400 acres) near Schell Mountain, south of Clear Creek Campground, as of July 3, 2025. Fire crews have made progress on containment, and the fire has not crossed Rattlesnake Creek.
Wolf Fire has burned more than 470 ha (1 160 acres) of brush in Riverside County, California since igniting on June 29, 2025. The fire remains 0% contained, prompting mandatory evacuations and the deployment of over 300 personnel.
A 27-foot Chris-Craft powerboat carrying ten adults capsized near D.L. Bliss State Park on the western shore of Lake Tahoe, California, during a sudden thunderstorm on June 21, 2025. Six individuals were confirmed deceased, two were hospitalized, and two remain missing.
The Ranch Fire ignited near Apple Valley, California at 14:33 LT on June 10, 2025, consuming 1 702 ha (4 205 acres) in a matter of hours. Evacuation orders and shelter activations are in place as strong winds and low humidity continue to fuel the fire’s rapid spread.
The National Weather Service issued an Extreme Heat Watch for parts of southern Arizona and far southeastern California from the morning of June 14 through the evening of June 16, 2025. Affected areas include the lower deserts of Arizona and southeastern California, where daily maximum temperatures are expected to reach 40°C to 46°C (104°F to 115°F).
A ridge of high pressure over the western United States is bringing unusually hot and dry conditions, with record temperatures expected from May 30 to 31, 2025. The hottest areas include southern Nevada, southeast California, and northwest Arizona. Cooler air and possible light rain from a Pacific cold front and Tropical Storm Alvin are forecast to arrive by early June.
A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft concluded the CRS-32 commercial resupply mission with a sonic boom and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Oceanside, California, at 01:44 EDT (05:44 UTC) on May 25, 2025. The spacecraft returned approximately 3 040 kg (6 700 pounds) of cargo from the International Space Station, including scientific experiments and crew supplies.
The Jaw Fire and Democrat Fire in California’s Kern County have scorched approximately 1 657 ha (4 095 acres) of land as of May 21, 2025. Jaw Fire, the larger of the two, rapidly expanded on May 20, burning over 1 295 ha (3 200 acres) since its ignition on May 19. Meanwhile, the Democrat Fire has consumed about 362 ha (895 acres) since it started on May 18.
Thousands of Velella velella, also known as by-the-wind sailors, washed ashore on beaches in Ventura County, California, from late April to early May 2025. The mass stranding, driven by onshore winds and warm ocean conditions, reflects seasonal oceanographic changes along the California coast.
