Yesterday, 96 new fires were reported nationwide, including four new large incidents. Firefighters are currently working to contain 58 uncontained large fires across the country. National Preparedness Level remains at 3, with more than 12,000 personnel assigned to incidents nationwide.
The Southern Area and Rocky Mountain Geographic Areas are the highest priorities, with active fire behavior reported on several incidents. The Southern Area reported 19 new fires, including three new large incidents, while the Rocky Mountain Area reported 28 new fires. Many fires across the West are experiencing minimal fire behavior following recent precipitation.
So far this year, 55,419 fires have burned more than 8.4 million acres, 125% of the 10-year average number of fires and 147% of the 10-year average acres burned for this date.
Stay aware of fire conditions where you live or travel. Check local fire restrictions, monitor emergency alerts and follow instructions from local officials if conditions change.
Weather
Hot temperatures will continue across the southern Plains today with highs near 100°F, with locally breezy southerly winds 12-20 mph and higher gusts amid minimum relative humidity of 20-30%. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop in the Southwest and along a cold front from southern Colorado east northeastward into the Great Lakes. Behind the front, winds are expected to be mostly lighter than previous days across the Great Basin and Wyoming, but minimum relative humidity will remain low and 8-20%. Low relative humidity and light winds are also expected across much of California, as well. An upper-level low will drop into Washington tonight with isolated light showers, and temperatures will remain below normal in the Northwest into the northern Rockies. Isolated showers and thunderstorms will continue across Florida as well as the Lower Mississippi Valley and southeast Texas.
