Fire season extended by 10 or more days
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Extreme fire weather conditions are becoming more common, according to a new report from Climate Central.
Climate Central, an independent group of scientists and communicators, said low humidity, high temperatures, strong winds, and dryness are key factors that contribute to these potentially dangerous weather conditions.
In fact, Climate Central said, in Yuma, the fire season has been extended by more than 10 additional days and over in the Imperial Valley by at least 20 additional days.
According to the National Weather Service in Phoenix, there is a shift in climate and the recent data is alarming.
“What we’ve been seeing is that our summers have been trending hotter and conditions have been getting drier. So we’ve been seeing prolonged summers actually over the past decade or so. That's probably what’s been contributing to those additional days of fire weather," said Matt Salerno, Meteorologist from the National Weather Service of Phoenix.
Salerno has a word of caution as he and fellow experts anticipate very dry conditions in the next several weeks in the southwest desert region.
“Be mindful that it doesn’t take much for a fire to spark. We have to use caution and be careful if you are playing with any open fire, flames, or sparks," explained Salerno.
Fire season started in April and ends in July.
