Forest Fires in the United States: 2 June 1999
Forest Fires in the United States
2 June 1999
A wildfire on the borderline between the states of Florida and Georgia was being contained on Tuesday. The wilfire, which began ten days ago with a lightning strike has burned 53,000 acres (21,448 ha), mostly between the Osceola National Forest and Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Fire fighting crews were supported by firefighters and equipment from other states. In northwestern Arizona a wildfire between the Arizona-Utah line and the Grand Canyon, which burned 17,000 acre (6,879 ha), was contained. No injuries have been reported in both fire situations. The weather is expected to remain hot and dry with winds, without significant rainfall.
The wildfire danger remains moderate to high.
Several active fire signals are recorded by OSEI on 1 June 1999 in Florida.
Fig.1., 2., 3. and 4. The NOAA AVHRR images show heat signatures and smoke plumes from a large area of fire burning on both sides of the Florida/Georgia border.
(Source: NOAA http://www.osei.noaa.gov/)
The FLORIDA WILDFIRE STATUS SYNOPSIS prepared by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services/Division of Forestry in conjunction with the National Forests in Florida of 1 June 1999 reports 65 wildfires which burned 1110 acres (445 ha) over the Memorial Day Weekend. The year-to-date statistic summarizes 3,772 wildfires with an burned over area of 277,236 acres (112,193 ha).
The INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT (http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.html) from 31 May 1999 can be quoted as follows:
“…
CURRENT SITUATION:
Moderate initial attack fire activity was reported in the Southwest and Southern California Areas with minor activity reported elsewhere. Large fire activity continued in the Great Basin, Southwest, Southern and Eastern Areas. Mobilization of resources through the National Interagency Coordination Center included small cargo transport, type 1 crews, radio equipment and miscellaneous overhead. The NIFC large transport jet begins it’s contract today. No very high or extreme fire indices were reported nationally.
OUTLOOK:
Arizona will be mostly sunny becoming partly cloudy with locally windy conditions in the afternoon. Winds will be south to southwest at 15-25 MPH, gusting to 30 MPH. High temperatures will be in the 80’s and 90’s except 60’s in the mountains and 100-105 in the southern deserts.
New Mexico will be partly cloudy with southwest to west winds at 10-20 MPH in the afternoon. High temperatures will be in the upper 60’s to near 80 in the mountains, while the lowland central and southern part of the state will see highs in the mid 80’s to the mid 90’s.
West Texas will be partly cloudy with southwest to northwest winds at 10-20 MPH. High temperatures will be in the upper 80’s to 90’s with the Rio Grande region reaching 108.
Nevada will see increasing high clouds in the north and central portions of the state. The north will have isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms. The south will be partly cloudy. High temperatures will be in the mid 60’s to 70’s in the mountains, 90’s to 105 in the south and mid 70’s to lower 80’s elsewhere. Winds will be south to southwest at 15-30 MPH with local gusts to 35 MPH.
California will be partly cloudy in the morning with fog along the coast. Clouds will increase in the afternoon bringing a slight chance of afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Central California will be sunny, except in the Sierras where it will become partly cloudy in the afternoon with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Winds will be southwest to northwest at 5-15 MPH. High temperatures will be in the mid 50’s through the high 60’s on the coast, 60’s to mid 70’s in the mountains and coastal valleys, and the upper 70’s through the 80’s in the inland valleys. The Mojave desert temperatures will be 95 to 100.
Florida will be partly cloudy with scattered afternoon thunderstorms in the Keys, along the west coast and in the interior of the state. Winds will be east to southeast at 10-15 MPH. High temperatures will be in the high 80’s to 90.
Minnesota will be mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers. Winds will be northeast to southeast at 10-20 MPH. High temperatures will be in the 60’s in most of the state, except for the Lake Superior area which will experience highs in the lower 50’s.
…”
For detailed information regarding specified regions, please refer to the whole report.
