Wildfire season is more intense after a wet rainy season

Image

Image: San Diego Fire and Rescue

An intense wildfire season followed above-average rainfall in California in 2016-2017 in late 2017.

What is the cause-and-effect relationship between an intense rainy season followed by an intense wildfire season? Why would one follow the other? Does it also work in reverse, why or why not?

Resources

Climate Central: Can Rain Cause More Fire?

WP: This is why the Northern California fires are spinning out of control

Climate.gov: Why did it rain so much last year?

Type
Phenomena
Subject
Earth and Space Science

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