The Predictive Services section at the National Interagency Fire Center has issued their Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for February through May, 2014. If their prediction is correct there will be elevated wildfire potential in most of the mountainous areas in California and below normal potential in the southeast. Here is their summary:
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“Outlook Period – February, March, and April through May 2014
Executive Summary
The February, March, and April through May 2014 significant wildland fire potential forecasts included in this outlook represent the cumulative forecasts of the eleven Geographic Area Predictive Services Units and the National Predictive Services Unit.
February
- Above normal significant fire potential will continue over most of the southern and central California mountains and foothills, including the San Francisco Bay area.
- Most of the southeastern U.S. will remain in below normal significant fire potential.
March
- Above normal significant fire potential will continue over most of the California mountains and foothills.
- Below normal significant fire potential will continue from central Texas to the central Appalachians.
April through May
- Above normal significant fire potential will continue over most of the California mountains and foothills.
- Below normal significant fire potential expected across the central and eastern Gulf states and the Tennessee Valley.”