Scorching Summer Predicted

Researchers at the Forest Service and Oregon State University are predicting an "unusual" concentration of forest fires in the Western US over the next six months. Extremely dry, drought conditions in areas of California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Texas, and New Mexico have put millions of acres at risk, "with huge fires projected for much of Northern California and the Sierra Nevada range." El Nino is also beginning and bringing with it turbulent storms and lightening, a primary cause of forest fires. Almost all areas east of Texas and the Rockies Mountains are considered safe for now.

Image: "Boulder Creek Fire - Whiskeytown Complex - 2008" by H Dragon on Flickr, courtesy of Creative Commons.