FYI…
Sarah Tunge, ND Forest Service, provided the State Emergency Operations Center with the following Fall Fire Outlook information:
Fire Potential:
Normal significant fire potential is expected throughout the fall fire season.
Warmer than normal conditions are expected across the state through August with dry conditions developing. Near record setting rain in June has produced abnormally high fine fuel loading across the state. August and September are typically the most active fire months and fire danger indices usually peak around the second week of the month. Grasses are currently available to carry fire, and all classes of fuels will continue to dry throughout August.
Toward the end of August, hours of daylight begin to diminish and convective activity drops off substantially. For the extended period, a couple of dry cold front passages with wind events are expected in early September. With above normal fine fuel loading, there is the possibility of late season grass fires in western North Dakota. Otherwise, the early fall is expected to have near normal fire activity.
Forecasted temperature:
Equal chances above or below normal temperatures.
Drought conditions:
With above average moisture across the state this spring no drought conditions are present at this time.
