Carolina Fires

[Yupo]

Evacuation orders issued as 175 wildfires erupt across South and North Carolina

The cause of the Carolina Forest Fire is under investigation. The blaze erupted amid wind gusts of up to 40 mph and extremely dry conditions, fire officials said. A fire in Horry County north of the Carolina Forest had scorched more than 300...

www.sott.net

I've spent most of my 65 years in NC and have never heard of or seen anything like this number of fires. We do get a big forest fire occasionally, but all this, all at once? Reports say it has been dry, but hasn't seemed so to me. Lots of rain very week, if recent memory serves.
It was slightly hazy today, but I didn't smell any smoke.

 

[Lilou]

My sister is on the road, going through Georgia. While talking to my mom on the phone a few minutes ago, she said she had to hang up because the forest next to the interstate was on fire! Don’t know where exactly she was. Will find out next time I talk to her.

Update: She’s traveling north on I75, south of Atlanta about 120 miles.

 

[dennis]

Drought and fire monitors for SC, each state likely has similar data, check out Ag and Forestry agencies. It has been lower than normal rain since about December, 19th driest January since 1895. Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow for Myrtle Beach where the large fire has been burning.

South Carolina

Current state-level drought information for South Carolina: .

www.drought.gov

Map of fire responses

fiResponse - Public Viewer

scfc.firesponse.com

The Keetch–Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is used to assess and predict wildfire potential and severity. Calculated once a day based on rainfall, air temperature and other meteorological factors, KBDI values represent the net effect of evapotranspiration and precipitation relating to the flammability of organic material in the ground. The index ranges from zero, the point of no moisture deficiency, to 800, the maximum drought that is possible. The higher the number, the greater potential of wildfires igniting easily and spreading rapidly.

ArcGIS Dashboards

ArcGIS Dashboards

scfc.maps.arcgis.com