The southwestern U.S. has experienced one of the driest winters on record, leading to critical wildfire risks due to almost non-existent snowpack and tinder dry vegetation. Over 1,000 firefighters joined an academy in Arizona to prepare for potentially intense fire seasons ahead. With meteorological winter recorded as the third driest, places like Flagstaff are notably affected, finishing with significant snowfall deficits. Experts warn that the lack of moisture combined with warm temperatures significantly heightens fire behavior expectations for the upcoming season.
The lack of moisture and warm temperatures can combine to increase the rate of spread and intensity of fire, said Roy Hall, the prescribed fire officer for the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. He says it's been dry in his state for months.
We would be remiss to not acknowledge that changes how we might see fire behavior come out of the blocks at the beginning and through fire season.
Experts with NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information reported in early March that total winter precipitation in the U.S. was just shy of 6 inches (15.24 centimeters)-or nearly an inch (2.54 centimeters) below average.
Many communities marked their driest winters on record, snowpack was nearly nonexistent in some spots, and vegetation remains tinder dry-all ingredients for elevated wildfire risks.
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