Wildfires cover much of Alaska during record fire season

The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.

Alaska is experiencing a record wildfire season this year, with large wildfires already consuming an area the size of Connecticut. Currently, 27 large wildfires are burning over a million acres of land, with an additional multitude of medium and small active wildfires covering the state.  The extreme fire conditions are attributed to early snowmelt in some parts of the state and a very dry June. Many of the wildfires started from lightning strikes.  More than 3 million acres have burned across the state of Alaska for the first time since 2015.  Warm and dry conditions are forecasted for the near future across much of the Interior into south-central and southeast Alaska.  Open report>>