VIDEO: The latest wildfire outlook from the National Interagency Fire Center shows much of Arizona in the red. That means a greater than usual likelihood of significant wildland fires.
Extreme drought expanded in the southwestern US and now covers portions of southeast California, southern Nevada, southern Arizona, and southern New Mexico. Warmer and drier than normal conditions in the West have resulted in a faster-than-normal snowmelt this spring, and with those conditions expected to continue, many locations are likely to be snow-free two to three weeks earlier than normal.
Dry conditions will continue across the southwestern US into June, typically our driest time of year in Arizona. But the North American Monsoon is expected to be robust for Arizona and New Mexico by July, and the eventual onset of the Monsoon will help to decrease the threat of significant wildfires across the southwestern US.
Human-caused fires are more prevalent in the spring, coincident with windy and dry conditions. Lightning caused fires to become more prevalent from June onward, coincident with the approaching monsoon.
