WEATHER WATCH COLUMN:  JULY 2003 ISSUE

Weather Watch:  Fire Danger

Nearly the entire U.S. is susceptible to wildland fires.  Each year an
average of 3 million acres burn, costing federal and local governments
hundreds of thousands of dollars to suppress.  Although dry lightning
starts about 10,000 fires a year, humans cause nearly ten times that
number.  Dry lightning is lightning from thunderstorms that produce
less than 0.10 inch of rain.  Most of the rain from these typically
western U.S. thunderstorms evaporates before reaching the Earth's
surface in the low-level dry air.  For more information, visit the
National Interagency Fire Center at http://www.nifc.gov/.

<-David Schultz, NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory>