Forecasters say the Southwest may sweat out more big blazes than first thought this summer. A new forecast calls for greater risk of significant wildfires in the region.
The National Interagency Fire Center's four-month outlook specifically puts Arizona and Utah at increased hazard.
Ed Delgado is the center’s predictive services manager. One of the reasons is: fires still have plenty of fuel.
“We’re seeing conditions starting to move more towards active fire as head towards the warmest parts of the month. We’re seeing a a lot of grass crop across the southern and western basin and parts of the southwest," Delgado said.
And that’s because of a wet winter. Another factor in the increased risk is a slight delay in the start of monsoon season.
Fires are currently burning throughout the west in Arizona, Utah California, Colorado, New Mexico and Washington state.
