Firestorms in Los Angeles have burned over 5,000 acres, destroying homes and killing two people. A powerful windstorm buffeted the flames throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday morning, with gusts of wind reaching up to 90 miles an hour, according to the National Weather Service. The winds were so powerful on Tuesday evening that water- and retardant-dropping aircraft could not fly. It's a phenomenon that scientists have warned about: a deadly combination of high winds and dry, open land — such as the brushland now being swept by flames in Los Angeles — amounting to fires that move faster than emergency responders can keep up with. Southern California has also experienced heavy rainfall and flooding the past two winters — which is a huge part of the problem. Head to the link in our bio to read more about what could be the costliest fire in US history. Story by Mia Jankowicz, Thibault Spirlet, and Morgan McFall-Johnsen (Credit: Getty Images) #lafires #losangeles #firestorm