DENVER – The Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center has predicted fire potential will be below average for June and July in the Rocky Mountains.
The Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center performs a seasonal outlook that studies fire indicators including precipitation, wind and soil moisture to help predict the upcoming fire season, the center announced in a news release. Colorado’s most severe fire seasons – 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2012 – were characterized by “persistent, warm and windy weather conditions.”
The updated seasonal outlook for the 2016 fire season, June through early September, shows that heavy precipitation during spring eliminated the threat of an early or extended fire season.
Some of that precipitation includes snowpack levels above the median across the northern half of the state and rain totals of 15.6 inches in Denver for the month of April, which exceeded the average April rainfall of 8.9 inches.
Fire meteorologist Russ Mann said fire danger will remain below average for June and early July but could return to average for July and August.
The experts at the center warn Colorado residents to remain vigilant, however, because despite the forecast, the threat of wildfires still exists – an average year means around 3,000 wildfires for the state.
Colorado has already made advancements in wildfire preparation, including approving a new aerial firefighting fleet of helicopters, air tankers and high-tech single-engine aircraft in 2014, which have the ability to help keep firefighters out of danger.
