Fire and Rain [electronic resource] : California's Changing Weather and Climate / by Stephen LaDochy, Michael Witiw.

Chapter 1. Introduction: The Most Climatically Diverse State in the U.S -- Chapter 2. The Physical Environment: Causes of Regional Climate Types -- Chapter 3. California Sunshine: The Most Sunshine in the U.S -- Chapter 4. Temperatures are Rising (isn't surprising) -- Chapter 5. Fog: A Menace or Friend? -- Chapter 6. Precipitation: It Does Rain in California -- Chapter 7. Atmosphere-Ocean Interactions: Do El Niños Predict Rainfall? -- Chapter 8. Winds: Sea Breezes and Santa Anas -- Chapter 9. Mid-latitude Cyclones: Pacific Storms Refresh the Parched Land -- Chapter 10. Thunderstorms: Lightning, Hail and Tornadoes, Oh My -- Chapter 11. Climate Change: The Future Ain't What it Used to Be -- Chapter 12. Air Pollution: Smoggiest Place in the U.S -- Chapter 13. California Agriculture: Leading the Continent in Produce.

This book shows how California's weather and climate have drastically changed and what we can expect in the near future. California's weather and climate are becoming as common a topic in the media as inflation and wars. It comes into our lives during heat waves when we require more cooling and during droughts when we are asked to limit our use of water. We may not be able to visit state and national parks when fires rage nearby. Indeed, California does have weather. LaDochy and Witiw dispel the erroneous myths about the state's climate in a colorful, entertaining way. California does have seasons. It does rain in Southern California. It is not always sunny and mild throughout the year. And not all El Niños bring abundant rainfall every time throughout the state. These and other myths are discussed and dismissed with the latest science and remarkable vignettes. The authors describe the diversity of the state's physical environment, both natural and man-made and how climate change is currently altering this diverse environment. Climate change, in the past, present and future, continues to influence this most populous state. Yes, California does have weather.