Seasonal Outlooks and Climate-Scale Analysis of Heat, Drought and Fire Risk in Alaska 

Alaska Fire Science Consortium

May 27, 2026 at 1pm PT/4pm ET

Fire in Alaska is changing, but our communities don't have to just wait for the next season; we can take action now. Join us to learn how merging structural safety with wildfire planning turns a written document into a practical tool for protecting your home and community.

Temperatures and precipitation are increasing during Alaska's fire season (April–September) creating uncertainty about future wildland fire risk—warming increases risk while higher precipitation may partially offset it.  This webinar examines trends of heat and drought indicators (vapor pressure deficit, SPI, SPEI, convective precipitation, heat index) across the full season and by each half (April–June, July–September). Machine-learning analysis of large-scale meteorological patterns also supports seasonal outlooks of Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System components, including the Buildup Index and Initial Spread Index. Co-presented with the Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center