drought News

Scientists Say Wind, Drought Worsen Fires, Not Bad Management

Both nature and humans share blame for California’s devastating wildfires, but forest management did not play a major role, despite President Donald Trump’s claims, fire scientists say. Nature provides the dangerous winds that have whipped the fires, and human-caused climate …

Southwestern US Could See Drought Relief From El Nino

Climatologists said Wednesday that conditions are right for an El Nino weather pattern to develop that could bring wetter-than-normal conditions this winter in drought-stricken areas of the southwestern U.S. But they also note there is no guarantee that an El …

California Enters Peak Fire Season With Delaware-Sized Burn Scar

California is poised to set an annual record it never wanted to break: the amount of earth scorched by wildfires. Blazes have already ripped through enough acres to blacken the entire state of Delaware, and what’s typically California’s worst month …

Wildfires Have Burned 3 Times More of California to Date Than in 2017

California’s wildfires are now burning through land at a pace more than three times faster than last year’s blazes. About 4,200 fires have charred 726,000 acres (294,000 hectares) in the state so far this year, according to figures from the …

California Considers How Bad 2018 Wildfire Season Could Be

As blame for California’s wildfires rises over Sacramento like smoke from last year’s blazes, the state is being forced to confront the possibility that it’ll happen again in 2018. California’s drought is worsening, and blazes have charred more acres in …

Northern California Hit by Another Big Wildfire

Thousands were forced to flee their homes Monday as major wildfires encroached on a charred area of Northern California still recovering from severe blazes in recent years, sparking concern the state may be in for another destructive series of wildfires …

Extreme Fire Danger Forces Colorado to Close National Forest

Extreme fire danger prompted officials to shut down a sprawling forest that includes some of Colorado’s most stunning mountains in a region that attracts tourists from around the world, a rare tactic also being used in neighboring states as the …

Experts Warn of ‘Alarming’ Drought Conditions in Southwest

Rivers and watering holes are drying up, popular mountain recreation spots are closing and water restrictions are in full swing as a persistent drought intensifies its grip on pockets of the American Southwest. Climatologists and other experts on Wednesday provided …

Wildfire Danger Prompts Closing of Arizona Forest Lands

Tourists and the residents of Arizona mountain towns that rely on them won’t have access to parts of some national forests this summer as authorities attempt to prevent wildfires in the drought-parched state during a critically dangerous time. Coconino National …

Forecasters Warn of Rare, Life-Threatening Oklahoma Wildfire Weather

Forecasters warned of dangerous, life-threatening wildfire conditions in parts of the Southwest and Southern Plains on Tuesday, as a forestry official warned firefighters battling a terrifying deadly blaze in Oklahoma that it would be a “historically critical day.” Gusty winds …