The 2020 New Mexico wildfire season began in May 2020. At least 543 wildfires burned across the state, with fires burning as late as October 2020.
The season was a part of the
2020 Western United States wildfire season
The Western United States experienced a series of major wildfires in 2020. Severe August thunderstorms ignited numerous wildfires across 2020 California wildfires, California, 2020 Oregon wildfires, Oregon, and 2020 Washington wildfires, Washi ...
.
Background
While "fire season" can vary every year in New Mexico based on weather conditions, most wildfires occur in from early May through June, before the
monsoon
A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in Atmosphere of Earth, atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annu ...
season. However, there is an increasing fire risk year-round from
climate change
Present-day climate change includes both global warming—the ongoing increase in Global surface temperature, global average temperature—and its wider effects on Earth's climate system. Climate variability and change, Climate change in ...
. Droughts are becoming more common partly from rising temperatures in the state that evaporate water from streams. Unpredictable monsoon levels can increase fire risks. New Mexico is prone to strong winds, and jet stream disruption from climate change can make them stronger. Intense winds contribute to drought, allow wildfires to spread, and dry out vegetation. Unique plant life and fine fuels in the state fuel wildfires, especially in the Eastern New Mexico grasslands. Rising temperatures will reduce snowpack and shorten the snowmelt season which can increase drought and wildfire severity.
Overgrazing and logging in the late 1800s and over 100 years of strict fire suppression affected natural systems of New Mexico led to a growing wildfire risk and intensity. Scientists predict New Mexico's forests will gradually deteriorate, turning into shrublands as wildfires burn the forests.
List of wildfires
The following is a list of fires that burned more than , or produced significant structural damage or casualties.
References
2020 New Mexico wildfires,
2020 in New Mexico, Wildfires
Wildfires in New Mexico
Lists of wildfires in the United States, New Mexico
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