Climatic and weather factors affecting fire occurrence and behavior

Weather and climate have a profound influence on wildland fire ignition potential, fire behavior, and fire severity. Local weather and climate are affected by large-scale patterns of winds over the hemispheres that predispose wildland fuels to fire. The characteristics of wildland fuels, especially the moisture content, ultimately determine fire behavior and the impact of fire on the landscape. The physical processes related to combustion, fire, and plume behavior are largely affected by both daily weather and long-term climate.