Forest Fires in the United States: 4 November 1999
Forest Fires in the United States
4 November 1999
The National Interagency Fire Center reported on 3 November 1999 that two fires in North Dakota grew from 13,000 ha to 27,000 ha, but are expected to be contained today. Also, as dry and warm conditions dominate weather patterns very high to extreme fire conditions were reported from California, Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming and Missouri.
Fire Weather Outlook
A high pressure system will remain over most of the western U.S. continuing dry conditions. Seasonal temperatures for most of the West will be in the 50s in the mountains and 60s in the valleys.
A Pacific storm will spread clouds across western Oregon with rain showers expected in the northwestern portion of the state.
Fig. 1. Large Wildland Fires in the United States, 3 November 1999
(National Interagency Fire Center)
For more information please refer to the website of National Interagency Fire Center.
Several active fire signals are recorded by OSEI with the NOAA-14 POES AVHRR HRPT satellite on 2 November 1999 in the western U.S. and California.
Fig. 2. and 3. The images show heat signatures and a few smoke plumes from areas of fire scattered from northern California to southwestern Oregon, and also fires burning in northern Idaho and western Montana.
(Source: NOAA http://www.osei.noaa.gov/)
According the INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT the current situation for 3 November 1999 can be quoted as follows:
“…
CURRENT SITUATION
Increased initial attack activity occurred in the Eastern and Southern Areas, with minimal activity reported elsewhere. Good progress was made on the large fires in the Northern Rockies and Eastern Areas. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in California, Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Missouri.
OUTLOOK:
A high pressure system will remain over most of the western U.S. continuing dry conditions. A weakening Pacific storm will spread clouds across western Oregon with rain showers confined to the northwestern portion of the state. Seasonal temperatures for the rest of the Intermountain west will be 50’s in the mountains and 60’s in the valleys. Light winds and seasonal relative humidities can be expected. Most of California will experience warmer temperatures and slightly drier relative humidities. Afternoon temperatures will be in the 70’s and 80’s, and minimum relative humidities will range from 10 to 30 percent. Winds will be light and variable. A dry ridge of high pressure is building over the northern Rockies and will bring temperatures to eastern Montana in the 50’s and 60’s. Relative humidities will fall below 20 percent at many locations and overnight recovery will be poor. Winds will remain light. A high pressure ridge extending from the southern plains northward through the southern Dakotas will drift slowly eastward across Minnesota. This should continue dry conditions in the area with maximum temperatures in the mid 40’s and 50’s. Winds will be generally from the northwest and can be expected to be under 15 MPH. High pressure will rebuild over the southeastern U.S. with fair and cool conditions. A cold front passing across the northeast will bring cooler temperatures and snowfall in some areas.
… .”
Following basic fire data describe the fire situation in 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 108 13,768 83,885 2,140,459
For detailed information regarding specified regions, please refer to the whole report.
