As wildfires continue to rage out of control in Southern California, we know that we are entering new territory when it comes to wildfires and fire seasons.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, one-third of U.S. homes are in counties with high wildfire risk. Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires, putting U.S. homes, roads, power lines, and other critical infrastructure at risk.
The West is seeing the most dramatic jump where wildfire seasons are becoming longer and more intense. Extended dry conditions, low humidity levels and our warming world are all contributing factors in this escalation of fire behavior.
Climate Central’s analysis shows that 56 of California’s 58 counties have a high or very high risk of wildfires impacting people’s homes. That’s more than 38 million people or 97% of the state’s population.
(MORE: Latest On California Wildfires)
In Florida, more than 21 million people, or 99% of the state’s population lives in a high or very high risk of wildfires, putting homeowners at risk.
You can see how many people live in areas prone to wildfires in your state here.
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Fire Weather Days Also Increasing
According to an analysis by Climate Central, some areas in the West are seeing a more than 60 day jump in annual fire weather days.
A fire weather day does not mean a fire is actually burning, but rather is defined as a day where conditions are ripe for wildfires to spread.
Fire weather can generally be described as hot, dry, and windy conditions which prime the landscape for extreme fire behavior.
When a fire weather day occurs, this does not mean a fire is guaranteed to occur. However, if a fire does occur on such a day, there is an increased chance it will spread rapidly and, thus, be much more dangerous and destructive than if conditions were less conducive.
Certain areas in southern California, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona have seen some of the greatest increases in annual fire weather days. Some locations are now seeing as much as two more months of fire weather days compared to 50 years ago.
The Southeast Desert Basin of southern California now sees 61 more fire weather days each year, compared to the early 70s. Southeast Arizona is now seeing 57 more fire weather days annually. And west Texas is now seeing 59 more fire weather days compared to 50 years ago.
See if the number of fire weather days have increased where you live here.
Scientists believe human-caused climate change accounts for at least two-thirds of the rapid increase in fire weather in the western U.S. in recent decades — and contributes to the rising frequency and intensity of wildfires globally.
Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world’s biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.