Forest Fires in the United States: 24 November 1999
Forest Fires in the United States
24 November 1999
Several active fire signals were recorded by OSEI with the NOAA-14 POES AVHRR HRPT satellite on 23 November 1999 in the southeastern United States.
Fig. 1. The image shows heat signatures from areas of fire that continue to burn in West Virginia and Kentucky.
(Source: NOAA http://www.osei.noaa.gov/)
The Wildland Fire Assessment System, provided by “The Fire Behavior Research Work Unit”, Missoula (Montana USA), produces following fire danger map.
Fig. 2. Fire Danger Forecast Map, 24 November 1999
(Source: Fire Behavior Research Work Unit, Missoula)
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reports its Wildland Fire Update every Friday unless significant activity occurs.
According the INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT the situation for 23 November 1999 can be quoted as follows:
“…
CURRENT SITUATION
Moderate to high initial attack activity continued in the Southern and Eastern Areas. Containment objectives of large fires were met in the Southern Area and demobilization of resources is starting to occur. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Missouri and Oklahoma.
OUTLOOK
There will be a chance of showers and thunderstorms for Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. The rest of the south can expect morning fog and cloudy conditions. High temperatures will be from the mid 60’s to around 70 degrees and minimum humidities can be expected to be in the 55 percent range.
An upper trough will move through the central United States today and continue northeastward bringing thunderstorms and cooling for Oklahoma and Missouri. Temperatures will range from 55 to 60 degrees.
Southern California’s offshore winds should decrease today and temperatures will moderate as a dry Pacific trough moves inland. Winds are forecasted to strengthen behind the trough for Wednesday and Thursday. Conditions will be mostly cloudy with highs in the 40’s in the mountains and 55 to 65 in the valleys. There will be local northwest winds from 10 to 20 MPH and relative humidities 20 to 40 percent in the mountains and 10 to 15 percent in the valleys.
… .”
Following basic fire data describe the fire situation in the United States. The most of the fires burning in the last two days are in the southern areas of the United States.
Number of FIRES in the last 24 hours HECTARES burning in the last 24 hours FIRES
YEAR-TO-DATE HECTARES
YEAR-TO-DATE 287 4,279 89,274 2,263,996
For detailed information regarding specified regions, please refer to the whole report.
