"Fire weather" is happening more often
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Hot, 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, now experience "around two more months of fire weather per year compared to a half century ago," the group says.
Yes, but: The number of such days grew by 2 in the Austin area.
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 it the push it needs to spread and grow.
The intrigue: A 2023 report found that nearly 88% of properties in greater Austin could face higher insurance premiums or policy non-renewals due to the risk of wildfires, high winds and other extreme weather events.
The big picture: Extreme wildfire events more than doubled in frequency and magnitude globally over the past two decades, a recent study found.
The bottom line: "An early onset of summer-like heat and dryness is quickly exposing Texas to growing season fire activity," per the latest weekly Texas Fire Potential Update from the Texas A&M Forest Service.