Over the last few days, many have observed an unusual late in moisture season. With monsoon season approaching quickly, state forestry reports that this moisture is giving some relief in fire risk, but it won’t last long.
George Ducker of New Mexico Forestry Division states, “It’s definitely taking our foot off the pedal a little in terms of fire potential over the next couple of weeks.”
“But all it’s going to take is a couple of weeks of warm, dry weather and we’ll probably be right back where we were,” he adds.
State Forestry considers May and June the peak fire months. Although snow and rain have fallen recently in the state, the real dilemma is that many areas in higher elevations suffered from low snowpack this past winter and are drying out quickly.
This is crucial for businesses that rely on snow as their main revenue driver.
“It’s gonna give those fuels a little moisture, but what they really need in those higher elevations is a couple of months’ worth of snow,” Ducker explains. “All rain is good within reason; however, it is a little too late for our higher elevations that really suffered from a lack of snowpack this year,” he adds.
Ski Santa Fe, Sipapu Resort, Eagle Nest, Raton, Las Vegas, and Mora received snow on May 1. However, State Forestry states it is nearly not sufficient enough to make a lasting difference.
The Answer
“While we welcome all moisture, the snowpack deficit that we still have in our higher elevations is our primary concern with heavy fuels,” Ducker notes.
State Forestry reports that the eastern plains are their area of biggest concern, as dry grass and higher winds allow fires to spread very quickly.
The short-term moisture in the state does not eliminate the fire risk due to insufficient moisture, new risks such as lightning strikes, and rapid drying.