Here's where fire risk is changing in America.
Climate Central examined historical trends in fire weather — a combination of hot, dry, windy conditions — across the U.S.
This analysis uses data from 476 weather stations to assess fire weather trends in 245 climate divisions spanning the contiguous U.S. from 1973 to 2025.
On average, climate divisions in the western U.S. experience 32 fire weather days annually. That’s four times more than in the eastern U.S.
Wildfire seasons are lengthening and intensifying, particularly in the western U.S. Parts of the eastern U.S. have seen smaller but impactful increases in fire weather days.
Much of the country has seen fire weather increase the most during spring. The Southwest is also seeing more fire weather during summer.
This analysis uses data from 476 weather stations to assess fire weather trends in 245 climate divisions spanning the contiguous U.S. from 1973 to 2025.
On average, climate divisions in the western U.S. experience 32 fire weather days annually. That’s four times more than in the eastern U.S.
Wildfire seasons are lengthening and intensifying, particularly in the western U.S. Parts of the eastern U.S. have seen smaller but impactful increases in fire weather days.
Much of the country has seen fire weather increase the most during spring. The Southwest is also seeing more fire weather during summer.