The Predictive Services section at the National Interagency Fire Center has issued their Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for December through March. 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 in December, but no other areas are expected to be in that category during the next four months.
Here are the highlights from their outlook.
December, 2014
- Long-term precipitation deficits and a risk off offshore winds will keep fire potential elevated through mid-December in southern California, returning to near normal wildland fire potential for the remainder of December.
- Below normal fire potential is expected for most of the South.
January, 2015
- No areas of above normal fire potential are expected for this period.
- Below normal fire potential will continue for most of the South and Mid-Atlantic regions.
February – March, 2015
- 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.
UPDATE, December 4, 2014: the drought monitor released today.
