The National Interagency Fire Center has released their significant wildfire potential outlook for January through April. According to their analysis, the primary factors influencing these outlooks are:
• La Niña: An ongoing strong La Niña episode is expected to result in drier and eventually warmer than usual weather across the southern tier of states and into the southern & central Great Plains, contributing to increased fire potential.
• Drought: Persisting and developing drought across portions of the southern and central U.S. will promote above normal significant fire potential during the winter and north and westward expansion of this enhanced potential in early spring.
• Fuel Dryness: Increasing dryness across the southern tier of the U.S. this winter will expand above normal significant fire potential westward across southern New Mexico & southeast Arizona and northward towards the Colorado front range & central plains during late winter into early spring.
