“It began as a stunning light show on a mid-August weekend — lightning bolts crackling in the skies over Northern and Central California, touching down in grasslands and vineyards. The National Weather Service warned that the dry lightning striking a parched landscape ‘could lead to new wildfire.’ It turned out to be a huge understatement.” Lightning storm, easterly wind: How the wildfires got so bad. (That lightning storm was the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen in my life, but only about the 13th weirdest thing I’ve seen in 2020.)

+ Devastating Photos Show The Aftermath Of The Oregon Wildfires.

+ Gulf Coast braces for 2nd round of flooding in Sally’s wake.