Parts of the Southeast and the Southwest are still feeling the effectsfrom this past winter's La Nina in terms of the number of wildfires. Thecooler-than-average Pacific Ocean current contributes to below-average rainfallin the sunbelt. While the pattern in the Pacific is now neutral, the extra dryvegetation lingers. This past winter's La Nina could be the cause of whatappears to be a very active brush fire season this year.According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), during the periodfrom Jan. 1 through April 3, 2009, nearly 580,000 acres were burned bywildfires in the United States. This figure is approximately 88,000 acres abovethe 2000-2009 average and the third greatest amount of acreage burned for thisperiod since 1999. The number of fires through March was just over 22,000, ornearly 5,500 fires above the average of 16,600 fires for the 2000-2009period.
With midsummer heat and lack of rainfall forecast for much of the Southeastand the Northeast this weekend, we may have more incidents of brush fires tocontend with in the coming days and weeks. Dry brush and lack of rainfall fromthe winter, combined with strong sunshine and climbing temperatures have litthe fuse.
A massive brush fire near Myrtle Beach has consumed more than 8,000 acres(estimated) since igniting around noon EDT Wednesday. The land charred by thefire stretches from Conway to North Myrtle Beach. The area is one of thebusiest tourist locations in South Carolina and the Atlantic coast of theUnited States.
Winds gusting up to 30 mph helped fanned the blaze in the early stages. Thefire has consumed approximately 50 homes. The fire has forced around 2,500people to evacuate between Highway 22 and Main Street at Highway 31.
Winds today will blow from the west and southwest averaging 7 to 14 mph, buthigher gusts are possible. While not quite as strong as yesterday, they willstill hamper firefighting efforts.
Much of the Myrtle Beach area continues to have a rainfall deficit sincelast summer and beyond. During this period, the region has received only aboutone third of their normal rainfall. Despite some significant rainfall of late,rainfall from March 1 to April 22 has only been about 50 percent of normal.
Story by AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski
