CALIFORNIA - California is staring down a volatile stretch of September weather, with tropical storm remnants feeding a humid heatwave that could pivot into dry-to-wet thunderstorm outbreaks, according to Weather West.

The month already opened with a jolt as lightning ignited dozens of wildfires, including the destructive “6-5 Fire.” While recent rainfall and the absence of deep drought have tempered the worst-case wildfire outcomes, forecasters warn that the setup this week shares similarities with the August 2020 dry lightning event that triggered widespread blazes.

Moisture from former Tropical Storm Mario is expected to drift into the Central Coast midweek, colliding with hot inland air and elevated instability. This alignment raises the risk of thunderstorms that may drench parts of Southern California while producing more dangerous dry strikes farther north, especially near the Bay Area and Sierra foothills. Some storms could also unleash strong downdrafts or flash flooding in burn scars and mountain terrain.

Adding fuel to the pattern is a record-breaking Pacific marine heatwave, warming coastal waters and juicing atmospheric moisture. That’s keeping nights muggy along the coast and could extend storm potential well into next week.

California agriculture, transport, and wildfire crews are already bracing for the swings—from parched fields to sudden downpours—that could ripple across the state in the days ahead.

Keep checking ANUK for more weather updates.