Over 60 Major Wildfires Raging in the US with Bulk of Activity in the West

Posted: July 28, 2021 12:09 pm

Explaining Why Monsoonal Weather Patterns Raise Wildfire Risk

Monsoonal storms out West continue to fuel the growth of wildfires in the drought-stricken area. Despite falling rain, the gusty winds combined with the dry land provide fertile breeding grounds for new fire activity.

Latest on the Wildfires

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there are approximately 60 large and non-contained fires burning in the US, with most of these blazes happening in the western part of the nation.

The largest fire burning today is the Bootleg Fire in southern Oregon. As of mid-week, the fire has burned through nearly 411,000 acres and was only 53% contained. Started by lightning strikes, the blaze is also responsible for the destruction of over 180 structures.

Farther south in Northern California, the Dixie Fire has destroyed over 208,000 acres while only being 23% contained. This fire has destroyed over 20 structures as it continues to move through the area, scorching the dry land.

Rain Brings Relief to Fires but Causes Other Issues

Down in the Southwest, the continual monsoonal moisture has finally brought a bit of relief to fire crews in New Mexico and Arizona. However, this rain has also brought along a whole new set of problems to the region. As rain continues to pound the region on a daily basis, the dry terrain is more susceptible to flash flooding.

According to data from the National Weather Service (NWS) office out of Flagstaff, Arizona, more rain fell in some parts of Arizona over the last month than during the entire monsoon season of 2020. One woman died in Flagstaff recently after she was swept away in rising floodwaters. Flagstaff has recorded 5.41 inches of rain in July alone, comparing to the monthly historic average of 2.61 inches.

The mountain city is not the only area in Arizona that is seeing a higher than average amount of rainfall. Phoenix is sitting at almost two times its average rainfall for July. Meanwhile, Tucson has experienced 3.4 times the average for the month.

This torrential rain puts these areas at a higher risk for flash flooding. Other cities that need to be mindful of this elevated threat in the coming days include Las Vegas and Palm Springs. A round of severe thunderstorms in Sin City on Sunday evening grounded flights for over an hour and cut power to over 13,000 customers.

Drought Conditions Continue

Drought conditions continue to be a major problem on the West Coast. According to the US Drought Monitor, 33% of California is now under exceptional drought, the highest designation of drought ratings. In addition, a drought emergency is in effect for 50 of California’s 58 counties. This covers 42% of the state’s population, putting millions of people at risk of wildfires heading into the peak of the season in August and September.

Southern California Finally Seeing Rain

Southern California is finally getting in on a little rain action. A round of monsoonal storms on July 13 delivered 0.10 of an inch of rain to Los Angeles. On Monday, another system brought 0.12 an inch of rain again to Los Angeles, marking the greatest total in one day since the middle of March. Los Angeles is now boasting its third wettest July in recorded history.

The normally dry Palm Springs measured 0.46 of an inch of rain on Monday.

How Monsoons Raise Risk of Wildfires

One would think that the rain falling over the area is generally good news. However, the monsoonal storms that are typical this time of year often bring a lot of lightning strikes with no significant precipitation. Because gusty winds often pair with these storms, it is easy to see how a lightning strike combined with strong winds can spark a fast-moving wildfire. With little precipitation to fan the flames, these fires often spread too quickly for crews to get on top of the containment.

In addition, the dry vegetation that has been absorbing the searing heat over the last several weeks is particularly susceptible to flames.

A large area of the West is at risk of dry thunderstorms through Wednesday. This includes the cities of Los Angeles; Reno, Nevada; Redding, California; and Medford, Oregon.

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