The Predictive Services section at the National Interagency Fire Center has issued their National Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for January through April, 2013. If the predictions are accurate, wildfire activity should be normal or below normal, except for Hawaii in January.
Significant Fire Potential
- For January, above normal significant fire potential is expected on the western sides of the larger islands of Hawaii. By February through March, no areas of above normal significant potential are forecast in the United States.
- Below normal significant fire potential is expected across much of the southeastern U.S. and the southern Ohio Valley for January and February, decreasing to an area from the mid-Mississippi Valley to the Appalachian Mountains by April.
- Elsewhere, expect near normal significant fire potential to exist. In many areas of the western U.S., this indicates winter conditions that are generally considered out of fire season.
