Updated: 13 June 2013

Number of Fires & Acres burned in May (2000-2013)
Number of fires & acres burned in May 2000-2013
Acres burned per fire in May (2000-2013)
Acres burned per fire in May 2000-2013

Overview

During May, wildfire activity was much below average. An estimated 6,331 fires burned over 106,000 acres. This was the second least May acreage burned and the third least number of fires for the month. The average fire size of 16.8 acres was the fourth least on record. The below-average wildfire activity during May marked a continuation of below-average wildfire activity since the beginning of 2013. The acreage burned, total number of fires, and average fire size were all record low for both the spring season (March-May) and the year-to-date period.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) :

For more wildfire statistics visit U.S. Wildfires.

Discussion

U.S. Drought Monitor map from 6 June 2013
U.S. Drought Monitor map from 6 June May 2013
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor

May was wetter than average for much of the northern U.S., while parts of the Southern Plains and Southwest were drier than average. Despite the dry conditions in locations where May wildfires are more prevalent, wildfire activity during May was much below average. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, drought conditions continued to improve along the eastern periphery of the core drought areas of the Great Plains. Beneficial rainfall also helped to alleviate drought in Florida. In the West, prolonged dryness and above average temperatures were associated with the westward expansion of drought conditions. In early June, nearly the entire state of California was experiencing at least moderate drought.



Citing This Report

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Monthly Wildfires Report for May 2013, published online June 2013, retrieved on March 29, 2024 from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/fire/201305.