Summer wildfire threat lower than normal
The Predictive Services unit of Cal Fire’s Southern Operations (Ops) does not expect a bad summer fire season. The June outlook released last week anticipates below normal fire activity through September, especially in lower elevations.
The coastal May Gloom, along with the wet winter, has contributed to a lower threat of wildfires through June and into early July. Lower Pacific Ocean temperatures have prolonged the coastal and, occasional, inland clouds, but is expected to end this month or in July.
“Overall, for the month, temperatures were well below normal across the coastal areas and a little below normal inland. Precipitation was above normal over most of the region,” the authors stated.
Consequently, the live fuel moisture is still above normal and there are no drought conditions remaining in the area.
In summary, the South Ops outlook forecasts, “Large fire activity will be below normal over the higher elevations through September as the well above normal snowpack melts and keeps soil moisture high. Large fire activity will be below normal across the lower elevations in June as the marine layer remains deep. The lower elevations are expected to have near to a little below normal large fire activity July through September …”
