"In recent years, however, the risks have sharply risen, along with the size and impact of bigger blazes. There is a changing wildfire dynamic in this region."
"Stronger summer storms seed the grasses that cure by winter. If there's no protective snow cover, that browned vegetation ramps up fire risks especially when the winds begin to blow."
"The probability of ignition just goes through the roof. The deck has been stacked."
"Satellite images from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) show grasslands in western Nebraska before and after several wildland fires spread through the area."
This spring, Nebraska experienced unprecedented wildfires, burning over a million acres, including the largest recorded blaze at 642,000 acres. The region's grasslands, typically greening in spring, faced extreme fire risks due to dry conditions and strong winds. A cycle of extreme weather, including a warm winter and lack of snow cover, has intensified these risks. Rangeland ecologist Dr. Dirac Twidwell noted that the combination of rising temperatures and land management practices has exacerbated the wildfire situation in cattle country.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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