Three firefighters were killed and two others injured in a burnover incident while responding to fires along the Colorado-Utah border. Extreme heat, wind and drought have fueled major blazes across the West, including Utah’s uncontained Cottonwood Fire.
Posts tagged as “the U.S. Drought Monitor”
Utah declared a state of emergency and restricted fireworks as the Cottonwood Fire burned nearly 72,000 acres with no containment. Forecasters issued a rare “particularly dangerous situation” warning as dry, windy conditions threatened rapid wildfire growth across the West.
NOAA says El Niño has begun in the tropical Pacific, with a 63% chance it becomes one of the strongest events recorded since 1950. Scientists warn it could intensify global heat and disrupt weather, food supplies and economies into 2027.
The U.S. Drought Monitor released new data and maps showing that California is seeing some relief from drought conditions, with half of the state now free of drought or abnormally dry conditions. The report attributed the improvement to the above-normal precipitation of recent months, above-normal snowpack, and improved reservoir levels. However, the report also noted that low groundwater levels remain a persistent problem, and more work needs to be done to ensure that the state's groundwater levels are adequately replenished.