Climate Change
This Year’s US Wildfires Have Already Set Records That Could Foreshadow a Smoky, Fiery Summer
Recently released data show how drought, paltry Western snows and unseasonable heat, all exacerbated by climate change, could be priming the nation for a long wildfire season.
As the Western United States limps away from one of the warmest and driest winters on record, wildfires have burned over 127 percent more acreage so far in 2026 than the 10-year average, potentially setting the stage for a long, fiery summer.
This Year’s US Wildfires Have Already Set Records That Could Foreshadow a Smoky, Fiery Summer