[californiadisasters] A Different Kind of Severe Weather

A Different Kind of Severe Weather

By Ryan Sandler, Warning Coordination Meteorologist

For most of the United States, this is the heart of severe weather season, bringing tornadoes, flash floods, hail, and high winds. However, for Southern Oregon and North-ern California, the warm season brings a different kind of severe weather. This "severe weather" that impacts our region between late June and early October is wild-fire.
Wildfires in the Pacific Northwest are often started by thunderstorm outbreaks consist-ing of hundreds or even thousands of light-ning strikes. These strikes overwhelm the ability of firefighters to reach all of the fire starts. A small fire can grow rapidly due to dry vegetation and high winds. National Weather Service meteorologists assist fire-fighters by producing fire weather forecasts. Meteorologists also issue fire weather watches and red flag warnings when the combination of dry vegetation and critical weather conditions, such as high winds or frequent lightning, create a high fire danger.
We have three meteorologists at our office that have special training and can be as-signed to large fires anywhere in the United States. They are called Incident Meteorolo-gists (IMETS) and can spend up to two weeks at a fire camp. IMETs can deploy rapidly with portable forecast and communi-cations equipment, providing important fire weather forecasting support. The forecaster sets up a laptop computer and communica-tions equipment near the fire lines. From there they provide critical information that helps fire managers decide where to move fire crews, learn about incoming weather, plan tactics, and provide for firefighter and public safety.
You will likely never see a tornado, but you will definitely see wildfires or be impacted by their smoke.

Source: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mfr/skywarn/summer2010.pdf

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