BC has seen drastically reduced wildfire activity this year due to above-average snowfall last winter, a cooler spring, a later onset of summer temperatures and lighter winds during the summer months. To date, 1,355 fires have started in the province since April 1, lower than the 20-year average of 1,515. But the most important statistic comes from the area burned so far – just 42,997 hectares. That’s about 17% of the province’s 20-year average for this time of year. In an update on wildfires across the province Thursday, Neal McLoughlin, chief of forecasting services with the BC Wildfire Service, said crews have seen success in their initial response to new fires this summer. “We’ve had above normal winter rainfall, cooler spring temperatures, delayed snowmelt in the upper elevations and a generally late start to the fire season,” McLoughlin said. “Overall, the weather pattern has produced light winds and stable atmospheres and these play a large role in limiting fire growth. “In late August, we actually saw rainfall in southeastern BC, which limited the growth of active fires and also contributed to initial attack success rates.” While conditions were generally favorable for fire suppression in the province this summer, August saw significant lightning activity, with more than 98,000 strikes across the province. That’s up from 75,800 strikes in July. As a result, 75% of fires started this year were caused by lightning. The most prominent lightning spike occurred in the second half of August, but this trend has since been declining. “BC is experiencing one of the lowest human-caused fire seasons since 1950, so we’re asking all British Columbians to keep up the great work you’re all doing,” said Forests Minister Katrine Conroy. Looking ahead to September, McLoughlin noted that the Pacific Ocean off the coast of B.C. is 3-5 C above normal, which will cause warmer than normal temperatures across the province. As the province moves into a fall weather pattern, McLoughlin says stronger winds could be a concern when it comes to wildfires. Areas in the southwest and northeast corners of the province have the most fire concerns through September if those areas don’t see much rain. ORIGINAL: 12:55 p.m BC Forestry Minister Katrine Conroy and Neal McLoughlin, superintendent of forecast services with the BC Wildfire Service provide an update on the state of wildfires in the province, along with a September forecast.

title: “Bc Has Seen Just 17 Of The Area Burned This Summer Compared To The 20 Year Average Bc News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-11” author: “Katherine Poston”

BC has seen drastically reduced wildfire activity this year due to above-average snowfall last winter, a cooler spring, a later onset of summer temperatures and lighter winds during the summer months. To date, 1,355 fires have started in the province since April 1, lower than the 20-year average of 1,515. But the most important statistic comes from the area burned so far – just 42,997 hectares. That’s about 17% of the province’s 20-year average for this time of year. In an update on wildfires across the province Thursday, Neal McLoughlin, chief of forecasting services with the BC Wildfire Service, said crews have seen success in their initial response to new fires this summer. “We’ve had above normal winter rainfall, cooler spring temperatures, delayed snowmelt in the upper elevations and a generally late start to the fire season,” McLoughlin said. “Overall, the weather pattern has produced light winds and stable atmospheres and these play a large role in limiting fire growth. “In late August, we actually saw rainfall in southeastern BC, which limited the growth of active fires and also contributed to initial attack success rates.” While conditions were generally favorable for fire suppression in the province this summer, August saw significant lightning activity, with more than 98,000 strikes across the province. That’s up from 75,800 strikes in July. As a result, 75% of fires started this year were caused by lightning. The most prominent lightning spike occurred in the second half of August, but this trend has since been declining. “BC is experiencing one of the lowest human-caused fire seasons since 1950, so we’re asking all British Columbians to keep up the great work you’re all doing,” said Forests Minister Katrine Conroy. Looking ahead to September, McLoughlin noted that the Pacific Ocean off the coast of B.C. is 3-5 C above normal, which will cause warmer than normal temperatures across the province. As the province moves into a fall weather pattern, McLoughlin says stronger winds could be a concern when it comes to wildfires. Areas in the southwest and northeast corners of the province have the most fire concerns through September if those areas don’t see much rain. ORIGINAL: 12:55 p.m BC Forestry Minister Katrine Conroy and Neal McLoughlin, superintendent of forecast services with the BC Wildfire Service provide an update on the state of wildfires in the province, along with a September forecast.

title: “Bc Has Seen Just 17 Of The Area Burned This Summer Compared To The 20 Year Average Bc News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-06” author: “Grace Brannon”

BC has seen drastically reduced wildfire activity this year due to above-average snowfall last winter, a cooler spring, a later onset of summer temperatures and lighter winds during the summer months. To date, 1,355 fires have started in the province since April 1, lower than the 20-year average of 1,515. But the most important statistic comes from the area burned so far – just 42,997 hectares. That’s about 17% of the province’s 20-year average for this time of year. In an update on wildfires across the province Thursday, Neal McLoughlin, chief of forecasting services with the BC Wildfire Service, said crews have seen success in their initial response to new fires this summer. “We’ve had above normal winter rainfall, cooler spring temperatures, delayed snowmelt in the upper elevations and a generally late start to the fire season,” McLoughlin said. “Overall, the weather pattern has produced light winds and stable atmospheres and these play a large role in limiting fire growth. “In late August, we actually saw rainfall in southeastern BC, which limited the growth of active fires and also contributed to initial attack success rates.” While conditions were generally favorable for fire suppression in the province this summer, August saw significant lightning activity, with more than 98,000 strikes across the province. That’s up from 75,800 strikes in July. As a result, 75% of fires started this year were caused by lightning. The most prominent lightning spike occurred in the second half of August, but this trend has since been declining. “BC is experiencing one of the lowest human-caused fire seasons since 1950, so we’re asking all British Columbians to keep up the great work you’re all doing,” said Forests Minister Katrine Conroy. Looking ahead to September, McLoughlin noted that the Pacific Ocean off the coast of B.C. is 3-5 C above normal, which will cause warmer than normal temperatures across the province. As the province moves into a fall weather pattern, McLoughlin says stronger winds could be a concern when it comes to wildfires. Areas in the southwest and northeast corners of the province have the most fire concerns through September if those areas don’t see much rain. ORIGINAL: 12:55 p.m BC Forestry Minister Katrine Conroy and Neal McLoughlin, superintendent of forecast services with the BC Wildfire Service provide an update on the state of wildfires in the province, along with a September forecast.

title: “Bc Has Seen Just 17 Of The Area Burned This Summer Compared To The 20 Year Average Bc News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-30” author: “Kimberly Bahena”

BC has seen drastically reduced wildfire activity this year due to above-average snowfall last winter, a cooler spring, a later onset of summer temperatures and lighter winds during the summer months. To date, 1,355 fires have started in the province since April 1, lower than the 20-year average of 1,515. But the most important statistic comes from the area burned so far – just 42,997 hectares. That’s about 17% of the province’s 20-year average for this time of year. In an update on wildfires across the province Thursday, Neal McLoughlin, chief of forecasting services with the BC Wildfire Service, said crews have seen success in their initial response to new fires this summer. “We’ve had above normal winter rainfall, cooler spring temperatures, delayed snowmelt in the upper elevations and a generally late start to the fire season,” McLoughlin said. “Overall, the weather pattern has produced light winds and stable atmospheres and these play a large role in limiting fire growth. “In late August, we actually saw rainfall in southeastern BC, which limited the growth of active fires and also contributed to initial attack success rates.” While conditions were generally favorable for fire suppression in the province this summer, August saw significant lightning activity, with more than 98,000 strikes across the province. That’s up from 75,800 strikes in July. As a result, 75% of fires started this year were caused by lightning. The most prominent lightning spike occurred in the second half of August, but this trend has since been declining. “BC is experiencing one of the lowest human-caused fire seasons since 1950, so we’re asking all British Columbians to keep up the great work you’re all doing,” said Forests Minister Katrine Conroy. Looking ahead to September, McLoughlin noted that the Pacific Ocean off the coast of B.C. is 3-5 C above normal, which will cause warmer than normal temperatures across the province. As the province moves into a fall weather pattern, McLoughlin says stronger winds could be a concern when it comes to wildfires. Areas in the southwest and northeast corners of the province have the most fire concerns through September if those areas don’t see much rain. ORIGINAL: 12:55 p.m BC Forestry Minister Katrine Conroy and Neal McLoughlin, superintendent of forecast services with the BC Wildfire Service provide an update on the state of wildfires in the province, along with a September forecast.