The wet weather will bring relief to Southern California after a prolonged period of dryness, but there’s concern that any bursts of heavy rainfall could cause flooding.

Containing wildfires—never mind extinguishing them—in parched and windy conditions can be monstrously difficult. Dry vegetation is rocket fuel for blazes and wind both feeds the flames and spreads the embers. “The winds are like pointing an air blower at a fireplace,” says Gershunov, “except it’s not contained and it’s on a much larger scale.”

At least 24 people have died in what Governor Gavin Newsom said could be the most devastating natural disaster in U.S. history.