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Just wondering why doesn't upstate New York have the same serious wildfire problems that we've seen out West? Is it because there is no drought here? Do forest management practices differ between the east and the west? Or is there some other reason these heavily forested areas haven't seen the same massive fires we've seen in California, Oregon, Washington, etc.
I can't remember ever even hearing on the news about big fires in the Appalachian or Adirondack regions. Just seems curious that all the biggest ones never happen in the major forested areas in New York (or Northern New England for that matter). Anyone know why?
I think you are on to something in terms of droughts rarely occurring Upstate, though there has been some haze in the sky recently due to wildfires in Ontario. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wwl...-ny-skies/amp/
The Adirondack climate is wetter, more humid than mountain regions out west. It is why it is greener, with more trees and vegetation up to the highest levels than western regions. You can see the difference when hiking in the Adirondacks vs. say, the Sierra Nevada.
And it rains frequently enough so that the vegetation is moist enough to inhibit the type and level of wildfires you see in the west.
I’ve been visiting the Adirondacks regularly for the past 22 years, and can not recall a time when it did not rain at some point during my stay - especially this year, where it rained 80% of the time.
A normal rainfall year in New Mexico, one that replenishes the reservoirs and keeps the native vegetation healthy and robust, would turn New York into a desert. Literally.
Have you ever travelled upstate? Water, lakes and rivers everywhere.
NY and New England have no shortage of water. Something to think about
Yeah, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting some sort of body of water in the Adirondacks, whether it be a lake, pond, river, stream, brook, or marsh. I imagine in the advent of a forest fire, they can act as a natural firebreak barrier to buy time for firefighters. But in a prolonged drought or drier climate like the West, many will dry out and lose that ability.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dingo Gibby
Upstate NY and New England do have periodic droughts, however. The difference is that the droughts are much less severe than out West. Forest fires can still happen. The Adirondaks, Catskills, and Allegany State Park are dotted with old fire towers where forest rangers used to watch for the smoke plumes that might signal a forest fire.
Those abandoned fire towers sure make great viewing platforms on clear days, or when it’s not raining. Here’s a bit of interesting history behind them in the Adirondacks:
A good chunk of the west coast has a Mediterranean climate which means dry summers/wet winters. I'm in western Washington about an hour southwest of Seattle and the last time we got substantial rain was probably mid June. July and August are always the driest and sunniest months here hence all the wildfires on the west coast in summer. Check here under climate data>precipitation and you will see we barely get any rain in summer and it gets more extreme the further south you go:
Very different climate compared to the east coast.
Last edited by fluffydelusions; 07-28-2021 at 01:09 PM..
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