Five new large wildfires have burned 144,141 acres. About 180 people are assigned to incidents, including 3 crews and 21 engines. Since January 1, 51,320 wildfires have burned 8,142,689 acres. The number of wildfires is slightly below the 10-year average of 53,747, while the acres burned is well above the average of 6,590,182 acres.
As we head into the winter and get ready for the holidays, we recognize the work our burned area emergency response (BAER) experts continue to do in several states. After a wildfire, the land may need to be stabilized to prevent loss of topsoil through erosion and prevent the movement of dirt into rivers and streams. Land management specialists and volunteers jump start the renewal of plant life through seeding and planting annuals, trees and native species that help retain soil and fight invasive weeds. It is a long-term process that comes alive as the fires die down. Learn more about what these scientists are doing in California, Idaho and Nevada on InciWeb.
Weather
A strong atmospheric river will continue to affect California into the northern Rockies through tomorrow, before weakening and sagging southward this weekend through early next week. Heavy precipitation will continue in northern California with areas of flooding, with light to moderate precipitation elsewhere across the West, focused on the northern half of the West through Saturday before sagging southward Sunday and Monday. Snow levels will begin high and above 7,000 feet before gradually falling from north to south Saturday through Monday. Drier weather and near to below normal temperatures are expected across much of the West mid to late next week, but areas of precipitation remain possible in the northern Rockies, and portions of Washington, mainly falling as snow. A Nor’easter will bring continued precipitation to the Northeast today, with snow most likely on the northwestern side of the precipitation shield. Precipitation will wind down Saturday as the storm weakens and moves off to the east. Otherwise, generally dry conditions are expected across the Plains to the East Coast this weekend into early next week. Another storm will move west to east mid to late next week from the Plains to the coast, but precipitation is most likely in the Lower/Mid-Mississippi Valley to the Ohio Valley, central Appalachians, and Northeast. Dry conditions are likely to persist across the southern Plains and much of the Southeast, with the driest conditions in South Texas.
Daily statistics
Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk
5
States currently reporting large fires:
Total number of large fires under full suppression strategies
