Fires Continue To Rage In The West
According to a NOAA report, conditions have been warmer-than-average, which persisted through winter and spring, with limited snowfall over much of the United States. The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. during May was 64.3 degrees, which is 3.3 degrees above average — causing the second warmest May on record.
One local weather forecaster stated that dry winters often precede dry summers. There could be some validity to this reasoning, especially if you’ve been in the industry for many years and know what you’re talking about.
Spring was drier than average, with a national precipitation total of 7.47 inches, 0.24 inch below average.
Raging fires in June have forced hundreds of residents to flee homes in Colorado and New Mexico, as another report has indicated. Mandatory evacuation orders have been given to several camping grounds at Roosevelt National Forest, located in north central Colorado.
May was a dry month for most of the Southern Region.
Colorado: The Hewlett Fire in the Roosevelt National Forest began May 14 and burned 7,685 acres (3,110 hectares) before containment. The Sunrise Mine Fire began May 25 4 mi (6 km) north of Paradox, Colorado. By June 1 it had consumed 6,192 acres (2,505 hectares) and was 85% contained. Both fires were human-caused.
Forecasts of Colorado River inflow to Lake Powell have dropped very far, and now rank among the 3rd or 4th lowest in the past century.
For many of us in other parts of America, we’ll keep the propeller on that fan cranking.
