Sun, 03 Jul 22 16:30:50 +0000

The biggest fire in Alaska began with lightning as the state prepares for excessive lightning today and tomorrow.

(CNN)The National Weather Service in Fairbanks, Alaska issued a serious warning this weekend that it was a "serious thunder." .. Both Sunday and Monday are expected in some of the states that are already dealing with large and lively fires.

On Saturday, Alaska and its neighbors recorded more than 5,800 lightning strikes, and more are expected in the future.

According to the Fairbanks Meteorological Bureau, another 5,000 to 10,000 lightning strikes are expected on Sunday and Monday.

This is today's lightning map of the Alaska&neighborhood. This is>5,800 strikes as of AKDT at 10:20 pm. BLMAFS data provided. ⛈#AKwx pic.twitter.com/cG0ORsBXxT
— NWS Fairbanks (@NWSFairbanks)July 3, 2022

"On a more normal thunderstorm day, we're closer to 1,000 and 3,000 (lightning strikes)," Fairbanks NWS meteorologist Elimbilings told CNN.

"From this weekend to the beginning of next week, we will have these energies swaying north across the Alaska Range, which will actually enhance thunderstorms and lightning outbreaks throughout the interior. "Masu," added Billings.

Today, some parts of the state, including Fairbanks, have fire alerts, especially due to this massive amount of lightning.

Sunday lightning activity is projected to belevel 4. This means that frequent lighting is expected and 11 to 15 cloud-to-ground strikes can occur in 5 minutes. For weather services.

The Meteorological Bureau said these warnings may need to be extended until Monday.

These cloud-to-ground lightning strikes are of great concern as they can spark new fires. "Many of our fires are due to lightning," Billings said.

The bean fire in central Alaska, west of Fairbanks, began with lightning between June 19th and June 23rd, burning more than 100,000 acres.

Lightning also caused the lime complex, which is currently the largest fire in the state, and consumed over 775,000 acres as of Saturday night.

According to the National Inter-Ministry Fire Center and the Alaska Inter-Ministry Coordination Center, more than 2 million acres were burned early Sunday morning, making the state the highest level of fire protectionWildland Fire. Dashboard.

At least 1.7 million of these acres are burned solely by lightning fires.

This year tends to be one of the biggest fire seasons on record.

"A typical year is just over a million acres across the season," said climate scientist Brian Brett Schneider.

The Alaskan fire season usually begins in the last week of May and lasts until mid-August.

"We are at the peak of the thunderstorm season, but as we move into late July and August, we tend to move to more southwestern streams, blocking the thunderstorm season," Billings said. Says. The

model continues to slow the advancement of this trough, or area of active weather, which makes the southwestern stream cooler and more moist, and the NWS Fairbanks 4-7 days ofweather. Delay the discussion 63} said.

Hope for Alaska's bailout is during the rainy season, usually beginning in late July.

"If the rainy season is delayed, this wildfire season can be historic," said Rick Toman, a climate expert at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. "Realistically there is enough fire. It will take some time to put it out."

Toman says the weather pattern for this week remains the same as the temperature is above 60. Said. However, it can be cool and rainy later this month. } Indicates that cooler and damp conditions can reach the state in mid-July.

However, much of southwestern Alaska has experienced moderate droughts and wildfires continue to occur.

"We have urged Alaskans to be very vigilant about the local burn ban that has been in place for several weeks," said an NWS meteorologist at Anchorage. Joe Wegman said. "There is definitely a concern on July 4th, and will there be more artificial starts?"