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Why The Past Year's Wet Weather May Make This Year's Wildfire Season More Active Than Usual

inciweb.nwcg.gov

Fire season this year in California is expected to be more active than average.  Experts with the National Interagency Fire Center say the state's wet winter is to blame.  If it seems like the annual forecast is always for a bad fire season — Capital Public Radio's Randol White says ... you're right!

Each May the predictions start rolling in: Californians need to brace for another tougher-than-average fire year.

Fire Center meteorologist Bryan Henry says there's a good reason for that.  He says what's good for one terrain is bad for another and vice-a-versa.

HENRY: "Seems like you can't really have one without the other, so unfortunately, I don't think there really is an ideal set up."

This year is a good example: When the higher elevations get a healthy snowpack, that's beneficial for the Sierra forests during fire season, but it also means lots of rain at the lower elevations, which leads to more fires for the state's grassy areas.

In drier years, the grasses aren't so much the problem, but forests are more stressed and vulnerable to burning.

Henry says it's a catch 22 without any good outcomes...

HENRY: "Unless, it turns wet in the summertime."

Which we all know in California is extremely rare. However, Henry says this year does show some promise.

HENRY: "The temperatures this summer may be closer to average than above average that we've become accustomed to."

He also says we could get that wet summer he mentioned ... at least wetter than California is used to.

In Sacramento, I'm Randol White

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