Huge winter rains and snow are continuing to reduce fire risk, experts say.
It’s nearly August, but one familiar summer trend has been very scarce this year: wildfires.A state traumatized by huge fires over the past decade that have burned millions of acres — killing more than 200 people, and generating choking smoke and apocalyptic orange skies — has seen almost no major fire activity so far in 2023.
Since 1993, four of the five worst fire years measured by acres burned statewide occurred after drier-than-normal winters. Those were 2020, 2021, 2018 and 2008. The only one that followed a wet winter was in 2017, when fall rains came late in the season and power lines fell in winds, sparking the Wine Country fires in October, and the massive Thomas Fire in December in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
An onslaught of drenching atmospheric river storms this winter ended California’s three-year drought, filling reservoirs, causing flooding in some areas, and delivering the biggest Sierra Nevada snowpack in 40 years. But if the winter was wetter-than-normal, they’ll regularly say that fire risk is also high because lots of grass has grown up, which provides fuel for fires.
Right now, Clements said, moisture levels in shrubs, like manzanita and chamise, are higher than normal, running about one month ahead of average. Skiers head down the Weasel run past bare ground at Alpine Meadows ski area in Alpine Meadows, Calif., on Saturday, July 1, 2023. Part of Palisades Tahoe, the area held their Freedom Fest event this weekend with skiing and snowboarding through July 4.
Lunder, who has worked for the past 25 years developing fire mapping and fire behavior models, said that as the climate has warmed, some public officials and climate activists have given the incorrect message that every year is going to be catastrophic. But local weather conditions like wind, lightning, soil moisture and availability of firefighting resources are still key, he said.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why Snoke Wanted Kylo Ren To Kill Han Solo (And Why It Didn't Work)One of the main plot points of the Star Wars sequels was Snoke wanting Kylo Ren to kill Han Solo. Here is why, and also why his plan did not work.
Read more »
SHIB Prints Huge Green Candle as This Wallet Activates After 2 Years of DormancyShiba Inu whale became active after more than two years of staying dormant and moved massive SHIB lump; price of Shiba Inu jumped then
Read more »
Whale Alert: Huge $250 Million ETH Trade Signals Market StrengthBig money making bold moves on Ethereum market, as $250 million bet suggests bullish outlook
Read more »
Will The UPS Union Deal Deliver?Slate Money: What should we do with unused credit card points?
Read more »
Adding More of This Oil to Your Diet Lowers Risk of Dementia-Related Death, Study FindsNew research shows how making small swaps could make a huge difference to brain health.
Read more »