Eagle Creek Wildfire in Columbia River Gorge, Or
Wildfires could burn more than 5.5 million acres this year as parts of the country struggle with worsening drought, according to a new report from AccuWeather.
AccuWeather forecasters are predicting 65,000 to 80,000 wildfires in 2026. Last year saw 77.850 wildfires, and the historical average is 68,707. Forecasters are also predicting 5.5 million to 8 million acres will burn this year. That's above the number of acres burned last year (5,131,474) but in line with the historical average of 7,000,514.
The western U.S. will see the greatest wildfire risk due to an unusually dry winter for the region. Drought, above-average temperatures and below-average snowpack will lead to increasing fire danger throughout the summer. Spring and early summer rain will bring beneficial moisture but also lightning strikes that could ignite dry grass.
In California, a heat wave has already melted most of the state's snowpack. Late season storms have brought some moisture, but not enough to make a dent in drought conditions. The storms will likely cause more vegetation to grow, which could dry out and fuel fires later in the season.
The eastern U.S. will see less risk this year due to summer storms and higher humidity.
"Early in the summer, portions of Florida and the Southeast may still experience some wildfire risk, particularly where drought conditions linger," said Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather meteorologist, in a statement. "However, as seasonal thunderstorm activity increases and tropical moisture becomes more prevalent, wildfire risk is expected to decrease."
Photo credit: Christian Roberts-Olsen/Shutterstock
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