Monsoonal moisture: How rain today could increase the chance of fire tomorrow
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- With the rain many in Southern Colorado saw over the weekend, you might be surprised to see that the greater Colorado Springs area is under wildfire watch. But monsoonal moisture can increase wildfire danger in one way you might not expect.
After a wet summer, thanks to monsoonal moisture, grasses and brush in Southern Colorado have grown thicker and taller than usual.
KRDO13 went out to locations in El Paso County where grasses are up to knee height once again.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) says that they work on fire mitigation and education all year round. Right now, CSFD is working on creating a fuel break on the southwest side of Colorado Springs. Later this fall, they'll work on mitigation at the Blodgett Open Space.
"Our vegetation grew, now we have an increased propensity for fire danger," Cory Ashby, a member of the Colorado Springs Fire Department's Wildfire Mitigation Section, said.
They say that if the rain doesn't keep up, then we'll be left with tall, dry grassland.
"Wildfire danger might be lower right now. Our fuels, or our vegetation, are growing very rapidly, and that fire danger can change very quickly," Ashby said.
KRDO13 Chief Meteorologist Merry Matthews said that dry weather could come back sooner rather than later.
"There are anomalies, but it's possible we go back into the fall with more of a late start in terms of moisture with the snow. So if you think about that, that's really allowing for a drier period," Matthews said.
She added, the Colorado Springs area is a high desert region and is known to dry out quickly. Based on previous trends, drier weather comes with fall colors in Southern Colorado.
"This fall, we're likely to go back into more of a La Nina pattern, which typically yields at or below average precipitation," Matthews explained. "And all the moisture we had earlier in the summer, all that vegetation that exploded, is now going to continue to dry out later this year. So it does leave cause for concern."
CSFD says homeowners should try to keep these "fuels" in their backyard to a minimum. That includes clearing out dried leaves or needles, keeping tree limbs under control, or keeping grasses at 4 inches or lower.
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