May 23, 2022 - One new large fire was reported in Texas yesterday. Nationally, 14 large fires have burned 536,604 acres in seven states. New Mexico has six uncontained large fires and Colorado has three. Arkansas, California, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Texas each have one.
To date, 26,486 wildfires have burned 1,730,311 million acres across the United States. This remains well above the 10-year average of 19,948 wildfires that burned 821,902 acres.
Wildland fire managers continue to work closely with predictive services staff to prepared for current and expected fire weather conditions. Critical conditions are expected in parts of eastern Arizona and western New Mexico today and tomorrow. North winds, low relative humidity, and hot temperatures are forecast in the Sacramento Valley. And widespread thunderstorms with heavy rain is possible in central Texas.
As weather conditions in several states become critical, take a look at the current fuels and fire behavior advisories for central Arizona and New Mexico posted on the Predictive Services website. In addition, check out the significant wildland fire potential outlook for May, June, July and August. This outlook highlights areas of the country with the potential for an above normal number of wildfires. The Predictive Services monthly seasonal outlook podcast is also available.
Upper troughing is forecast over the Rockies into the High Plains with a strong upper ridge remaining over the Gulf Coast into the Northeast. A short-wave trough will move into the Northwest this afternoon with a cold front moving through the Northwest and into the northern Rockies and northern Great Basin. Breezy and dry west winds are expected across much of the Arizona into central New Mexico with isolated mixed wet and dry thunderstorms along the dry line across the eastern plains for New Mexico. Very warm and dry north winds are forecast for the Sacramento Valley this afternoon continuing into tonight with poor overnight relative humidity recovery. Low to very low afternoon relative humidity is forecast across the Northeast and the southern Great Basin as well, but winds will be light. Widespread showers and thunderstorms will develop along and near a stationary front from the Carolinas west into central Texas and Oklahoma with heavy rain and flooding possible. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop across the Northwest into the northern Rockies and northern Plains as well. A cooling trend is forecast for much of the Alaska Interior today with higher relative humidity but conditions will remain dry for most of the state except for light showers over portions of south-central Alaska.
Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk |
1 | States currently reporting large fires: |
Number of active large fires Total does not include individual fires within complexes. |
14 | |
Acres from active fires | 536,604 | |
Fires contained | 5 |
2022 (1/1/22-5/23/22) | Fires: 26,486 | Acres: 1,730,311 |
2021 (1/1/21-5/23/21) | Fires: 22,832 | Acres: 615,708 |
2020 (1/1/20-5/23/20) | Fires: 17,088 | Acres: 363,932 |
2019 (1/1/19-5/23/19) | Fires: 13,422 | Acres: 243,163 |
2018 (1/1/18-5/23/18) | Fires: 23,003 | Acres: 1,685,345 |
2017 (1/1/17-5/23/17) | Fires: 23,666 | Acres: 2,146,258 |
2016 (1/1/16-5/23/16) | Fires: 18,999 | Acres: 1,563,770 |
2015 (1/1/15-5/23/15) | Fires: 20,447 | Acres: 383,573 |
2014 (1/1/14-5/23/14) | Fires: 23,517 | Acres: 556,081 |
2013 (1/1/13-5/23/13) | Fires: 16,942 | Acres: 231,879 |
2012 (1/1/12-5/23/12) | Fires: 21,009 | Acres: 506,321 |
2012-2021 | Fires: 19,948 | Acres: 821,902 |