Exhausted firefighters are making slow progress against three fires raging in Los Angeles. The fires have claimed at least 24 lives and displaced over 100,000 residents. 

The world watched on in horror as the elderly were evacuated in wheelchairs against a fiery backdrop, Hollywood’s biggest stars’ mourned their scorched homes on social media, and abandoned cars were bulldozed in a heap to clear roads.

But the worst may not be over, with extreme wind conditions forecast over coming days and no sign of significant rainfall. 

Today, national environment and climate editor Nick O’Malley on the unique and frightening weather patterns caused by a warming climate, and whether or not Australia is prepared.