Wildfires Are One of Hurricane Helene’s Lasting Legacies
1 min read
Summary
Last week, over 200 wildfires were ignited across the southeastern US, marking the start of the annual fire season, which typically sees the most activity between March and May.
Although wildfires in the region are often smaller and less destructive than those experienced in the west, the combination of population growth and dry weather is creating problems.
A weather disaster last year may also be helping to fuel the flames, after Hurricane Helene knocked down hundreds of thousands of acres of trees, which are now dried out and acting as kindling for the fires.
The combination of hurricane-fueled destruction and drought is a situation that is expected to get worse as climate change accelerates, according to experts.
Although there is a large body of research into the increasing intensity of wildfires out West, the direct climate connection for southeastern wildfires is currently less clear.
Hurricanes are likely to become more intense and more frequent in the Southeast because of climate change, which could see significantly more forest land burned.
