"Fire weather" is happening more often amid climate change

Data: Climate Central; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosHot, dry and windy weather that helps wildfires spread is becoming more common across much of the U.S. amid climate change, a new analysis finds.Why it matters: What used to be several months of "fire season" is stretching in some places into a yearlong phenomenon, straining fire departments and others tasked with controlling or containing wild blazes.Driving the news: The number of "fire weather" days rose by 37 in the Southwest and 21 in the West on average between 1973 and 2024, per an analysis from Climate Central, a climate research group.Some areas, including parts of Texas, California and New Mexico, now experience "around two more months of fire weather per year compared to a half century ago," the group says.Zoom in: Fire weather is also getting more frequent in some eastern and northeastern parts of the country, like New Jersey and New York's Long Island.Both areas experienced notable wildfires in recent months.Yes, but: Fire weather days decreased in a handful of areas, such as central North Dakota (-12) and northern Maine (-8).How it works: Climate Central's analysis is based on data from 476 nationwide weather stations and is broken down by 245 climate divisions across the continental U.S.The group defined a "fire weather day" as one with temperatures of at least 45°-55°F (depending on the season), relative humidity within 5% of regional thresholds, and sustained wind speeds of 15mph or more — all happening together during at least two hourly measurements on a given day.Stunning stat: Human activities (unattended campfires, sparks from power lines, etc.) start a whopping 87% of wildfires, Climate Central says, citing the National Interagency Fire Center.Regardless of how a fire starts, "fire weather" can give them the push they need to spread and grow.The big picture: Extreme wildfire events more than doubled in frequency and magnitude globally over the past two decades, a recent study found.What's next: States like California and Idaho are preparing for what could be a challenging fire season as higher temperatures and faster winds risk turning even the smallest sparks into massive conflagrations.

Comments

World news

Taiwan alleges China is using cash to win developing nations to its stand on the island

washington times

<a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/spurs-vs-man-utd/live/528776">Spurs v Man Utd: Latest from Bilbao ahead of Europa League final</a>

about 3 hours ago

How switching to a flip phone deepened my friendships

Vox

Comments

Similar News

Fires drove record loss of world’s forests last year, ‘frightening’ data shows

A second man is charged over fires at properties linked to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Man who filmed himself setting fire to Bible on social media found shot dead

EU Plans New Sanctions on Russia in Push for Ukraine Cease-fire

Ukrainians Brace for a Lonelier Fight as Trump Backs Off Cease-Fire Call

A second man is charged over fires at properties linked to UK Prime Minister Starmer

Second Man Charged Over Fires at Properties Linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Second person charged over fires at Keir Starmer-linked properties

UK fire chief took his life after alleged harassment over qualifications, inquest hears

Second man, 26, charged over fires at homes and car linked to Keir Starmer

Trump Backs Off His Demand That Russia Declare a Cease-Fire in Ukraine

Trump Touts ‘Excellent’ Call With Putin but Fails to Secure Cease-Fire

Fire breaks out at townhouse complex in Mill Woods

Occupants safe after morning house fire in Saskatoon

Third suspect arrested over fires at properties linked to UK prime minister

The Who fire drummer Zak Starkey for second time in a month

Fires prompt state of emergency in Northern Quebec community plagued by water shortage

Building fire kills 17, injures others in southern India

Amid Cease-Fire Talks, Israel Expands Ground Operations in Gaza

Building fire kills 8, injures others in southern India

World news

Taiwan alleges China is using cash to win developing nations to its stand on the island

Systemic, not technical, issues may explain Pakistan's success with Chinese jets

U.S. defense industry reacts to Trump's Golden Dome announcement

Builder who won £5.4m on lottery 'didn't get a penny' and ended up 'a squatter'

Poland seizes hidden shipment of Boeing jet tyres being smuggled into Russia

Putin set to launch brutal summer attack on Ukraine as time is ticking for Russia

Hunter Biden threatened to knock out CNN’s Tapper amid long-running feud: ‘Go f*** yourself, Jake!’

‘Ape,’ ‘monkey’ and worse: Former Chick-fil-A employee accuses coworkers of monstrous racist abuse

Las Vegas gym shooting: Body cam captures moment police confront gunman

Who is Andriy Portnov? Former Ukrainian politician killed on school run in Spain

Donald Trump is now receiving disapproving marks on nearly every key issue - only scoring well with the border

Mapped: Where and how Israel has ramped up its latest attack on the Gaza Strip

Trump stops civil rights investigations into local police departments

JD Vance didn’t vote for his half-brother in Cincinnati’s mayoral primary despite posting endorsement

Senator says Rubio protesters ‘making progress’ for speaking in English

How to stop birds flying into windows – and whether those predator stickers actually work

Israel-Gaza latest: Week old baby among 82 killed in Israeli military strikes, hospital says

Undocumented migrant, 24, is arrested after he pretended to be a teen to enroll in Ohio high school

Senate passed ‘no tax on tips.’ Here is who could see massive drops in their bill to Uncle Sam

UK's Starmer suggests that a policy which denied retirees fuel subsidies will be changed

UK court orders singer Chris Brown freed on $6.7 million bail in assault case

A renowned mountain guide puts clients on Everest summit less than a week after they left London

Inside the Roman gym where the future pope kept a high heart rate and a low profile

Bell Canada working to restore internet after almost 140,000 affected in Ontario, Quebec

South Africa's leader aims to salvage relationship with Trump in White House visit

A suicide car bomber strikes a school bus in southwestern Pakistan, killing 5 people

Japan's agriculture minister resigns after a rice gaffe causes political fallout

Chinese fleet caught in contested waters near Japan and Taiwan

Russian economy collapse as profits plummet 42% at country's biggest steel firm

Horror in Spain as British woman plunges 60ft to her death in holiday hotspot

World's oldest pyramid built 22,000 years before Egypt's discovered on tropical island

Donald Trump Jr says the ‘calling is there’ for him to run for president

Kid Cudi set to take the stand and testify against Diddy. Here’s what’s been said at trial so far

Cucumbers under recall after salmonella outbreak tied to 15 states left 9 people hospitalized

Virginia Congressman Gerald Connolly dies at age 75 after cancer battle

Married Kohl’s CEO affair with a Walmart exec was retail’s dirty little secret. When it was exposed, it upended retail

Trump to meet with South African president amid tensions over aid, Afrikaners, Israel: Live updates

What is Donald Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile defence system?

Thailand vows to tighten control on cannabis after smuggling cases involving tourists soar

Iran vows to keep enriching uranium despite US demand for halt in new deal talks

In Syria, a Shiite shrine and community navigate a changed landscape

Map shows scale of flooding across southern France which left three people dead

In peaceful Banff Rockies, Canada vows to help rebuild war-battered Ukraine

Canada Post urged to end door-to-door mail delivery. What other countries have considered it?

Suspect who assaulted tourist from Toronto in Vancouver's seawall released from secure medical facility

<a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/spurs-vs-man-utd/live/528776">Spurs v Man Utd: Latest from Bilbao ahead of Europa League final</a>

How switching to a flip phone deepened my friendships

Tutankhamum breakthrough as Boy King's mystery death 'solved'

Spain panic as homeless pushed out of key airport 'will relocate' to hub used by Brits

Weaponry that makes China's formidable 'mothership' drone such a threat

House Republican goes scorched earth on Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ in Fox News appearance

Shakira concertgoers issued with urgent health warning in New Jersey

British surgeon in Gaza compares Palestine to ‘slaughterhouse’ as Israel intensifies its attacks

Hawaiian Airlines plane evacuated after U.S Navy servicemember made bomb threat, officials say

Andriy Portnov: Ex-Ukraine presidential adviser shot dead during school run in Madrid

Burkina Faso's military leaders turn to 'Africa's Che Guevara' to rally struggling country

Iran executes a man convicted over the 2023 attack on the Azerbaijan Embassy that killed 1 person

Why Trump’s biggest global allies aren’t very happy with him