Over three million acres of US forest expected to burn in second half of 2009

By Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York Researchers have a dire forecast for the next six months in the western US: it’ll be exceptionally hot, very dry, and 3.66 million acres will be scorched by fires. Apologies for the End of Days-y language, but the truth is that the researchers who compile the national drought and fire forecast are concerned that the rest of the year will see hotter, drier weather, and a higher concentration of fires in the West than usual. From Greenwire:

Higher-than-normal fire levels are expected in most of Texas, the Southwest, California and the Pacific Northwest this year compared to a base period of 1971 to 2000, they said, with huge fires projected for much of Northern California and the Sierra Nevada range. …

Frightening Forecast for US: Hot, Dry, and 3.66 Million Acres Will Burn Over Next 6 Months