Wildfire potential, June through September

On June 1 the Predictive Services section at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) issued their Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for June through September, 2014.

If the prediction is correct, the Rocky Mountains will get a pass this summer while the highest wildfire potential will be in:

  • Alaska,
  • the extreme western states of California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Arizona,
  • and later in the summer spreading to the upper Midwest and New England.

And we also have a prediction from the National Weather Service and the latest edition of the Drought Monitor.

From NIFC:

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“The May, June, and July through August 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.

June

  • Above normal fire potential will persist over much of California, southern Arizona, and southwestern New Mexico. Central Alaska and the southeast interior will also experience above normal fire potential. Portions of Northern California, Oregon and Nevada will increase to above normal fire potential as well.
  • Below normal fire potential will continue for much of the eastern half of the U.S., with the notable exception of the Great Lakes, Northeast and south Atlantic states.

Wildfire Potential,  June, 2014

July

 

  • Above normal fire potential will continue over most of California, Nevada and Oregon. Portions of Washington and Idaho will also experience above normal fire potential. Above normal fire potential will reduce to near normal conditions in Alaska and the Southwest. Fire potential will become above normal in the eastern Great Lakes states.
  • Below normal fire potential will develop over northern Idaho, Montana and portions of Wyoming and Colorado. Portions of Texas and the southeast will also continue to see below normal fire potential.

Wildfire potential, July, 2014

August through September

  • Above normal fire potential will remain over most of California, Nevada and Oregon. Portions of Washington and Idaho will also continue with above normal fire potential. Fire potential will expand to cover most of the Northeast.
  • Below normal fire potential over the northern Rocky Mountains will return to normal, while portions of the south central U.S. remain lower.”

Wildfire potential, August-September, 2014

The National Weather Service’s version of what they expect for temperatures in June:

Drought Monitor

Drought Monitor, May 27, 2014

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

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