Across the nation, there are currently 51 uncontained large fires, with 2,331 personnel assigned to incidents. On March 20, 2026, the National Preparedness Level increased to 2 (PL2), signaling that while overall demand for resources remains manageable, fire activity is becoming more coordinated at the national level. Several geographic areas are experiencing increased activity and are beginning to draw on national resources to support incident objectives.
There are two Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisories: one for the Northern and Central Great Plains, where historically dry fuels are driving extreme rates of fire spread and behavior not typically seen in March; and another for the Central and Southern Great Plains, where above-normal to exceptional grass loads are widespread. Dry and unusually hot weather expected through the remainder of March will cause these abundant fuels to become historically dry for this time of year.
The 2026 national fire year themes focus on keeping firefighters, support personnel, and the public safe, working together to fight wildfires, using new technology, understanding how homes and wildfires are connected, reducing smoke impacts, and being responsible when enjoying public lands. https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/national-fire-year-themes
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Weather
Breezy and dry northerly winds will create elevated conditions across most of the Plains today, while strong easterly winds are expected across central and eastern New Mexico. A cold front will move through the Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, but precipitation will be light and mostly in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Breezy southwest winds will develop ahead of the front and create elevated conditions across the Piedmont. Hot temperatures will continue west of the Divide in the Southwest, as well. After the cold front moves through tonight, very dry air will spread across much of the South, Appalachians, and East Coast with minimum relative humidity of 8-25% Saturday. Breezy north to northeast winds will also develop across much of the Lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast creating elevated to critical conditions. The very dry air will persist into Sunday, but winds will be lighter. To the west across the Plains, breezy and dry southerly return flow is expected to create areas of elevated conditions over the weekend. Temperatures will warm across the West once again this weekend, but not to the extreme levels seen earlier this month. In addition, limited moisture will move into the Southwest Sunday, with isolated to scattered mixed wet and dry thunderstorms expected which may result in many new ignitions. Below normal temperatures and dry conditions will continue across Alaska, while breezy trade winds today across Hawai’i become locally strong over the weekend.
