The Predictive Services section at the National Interagency Fire Center has issued their Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for October through January. The data represents the cumulative forecasts of the eleven Geographic Area Predictive Services Units and the National Predictive Services Unit.
If their predictions are accurate, southern California will have above normal wildfire activity through December, along with Minnesota in November, while the rest of the United States will have normal or below normal activity.
Here are the highlights from their outlook.
November
- Above normal fire potential continues across portions of central and southern California. Long term drought and a potential for offshore winds will keep potential elevated through November.
- Most of Minnesota along with portions of Iowa and Wisconsin will have elevated fire potential for November. This is not expected to persist into December.
- Below normal fire potential will continue across the Gulf Coast states.
December
- Fire potential will continue to diminish in California, leaving coastal areas of southern California with above normal significant fire potential.
- Below normal fire potential will expand across most of the South and Mid-Atlantic regions.
January-February
- No areas of above normal fire potential are expected for this period.
- Below normal fire potential will continue across central and southern Texas, Florida, and southern Georgia.
