Researchers in California are warning of a “grim” fire season this summer as the fuel moisture content [FMC] of vegetation is tracking at a “new record low”:
Fire season 2021 is looking grim. Our region's FMCs are tracking lower than the minimum– a new record low. This is caused by the lack/delay of new growth. Average is 137%, low is 115%, 2021= 97% #wildfire #CAwx @wildfirecenter pic.twitter.com/u7ekJ2phjv
— SJSU FireWeatherLab (@FireWeatherLab) April 5, 2021
This means the plants are dry and it’s a tinder box:
When fuel moisture is high because plants are lush and water-filled, wildfires don't ignite and spread easily.
When it's low because vegetation is dry, parched, even dead, wildfires start easily and spread rapidly.https://t.co/TTjqX4HkkS
— SFGATE (@SFGate) April 12, 2021
We expect this means more scheduled power outages during windy conditions to prevent fires caused by downed power lines:
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The fuel-moisture content — which measures the dryness of vegetation — is at an all-time record low in California.
It's never in history been drier than this in the spring, here.
It's gonna be another dark orange sky year, folks. https://t.co/fiK8C4kD3S
— Alex Steffen (@AlexSteffen) April 12, 2021
For comparison purposes, last year was the “third driest on record”:
This year the fuel-moisture content across the Santa Cruz Mountains is terrifyingly low as the state moves out of a second, consecutive rainy season marked by dry conditions.
The 2020-2021 winter was the third driest on record.https://t.co/WLDL55UVO2
— SFGATE (@SFGate) April 12, 2021
And it could be a long summer on both coasts as researchers are predicting another active hurricane season as well:
Last year was the busiest Atlantic hurricane season on record. This year, there may not be much of a break. https://t.co/ON5cqLTyAi
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 8, 2021
“Ugh” just about sums it up:
Like with hurricane season, we may pick up where we left off with fire season. ugh! https://t.co/QSE6fnz96b
— Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) April 13, 2021
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