On December 1 the Predictive Services section at the National Interagency Fire Center issued their Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for December, 2015 through March, 2016. The data represents the cumulative forecasts of the ten Geographic Area Predictive Services Units and the National Predictive Services Unit.
If their forecasts are accurate, it looks like a continuation of pretty benign conditions across the United States this winter.
Here are the highlights from their outlook.
- Significant fire potential is normal across the majority of the U.S.
- Below normal significant wildland fire potential will persist across most of the Southeastern U.S. and Puerto Rico.
- Significant fire potential is normal across the majority of the U.S.
- Below normal significant wildland fire potential will persist across most of the southeastern U.S. and Puerto Rico.
- An area of above normal significant fire potential will develop across the central interior portion of the eastern U.S. Above normal potential will also affect the Hawaiian Islands.
- Below normal significant wildland fire potential will persist across most of the Southeastern U.S. and Puerto Rico.
- Significant fire potential is normal across the majority of the U.S.
And as a bonus — the Drought Monitor:
Bonus #2, Percent of Normal Precipitation: