Kentucky’s climatologist says the Commonwealth’s forests and grasslands are likely to be at an increased risk of wildfires in the years ahead. But, it’s not expected to be a yearly threat.
State Climatologist Stuart Foster says when Kentucky experiences warmer dryer periods, they could be more intense. But he says the ongoing drought conditions contributing to horrific and deadly fires in California are not likely to extend eastward across the U.S. “I would say that if we saw a continent-wide drought, that would be something that is generally beyond what we would imagine and I think beyond what we would envision, even with a changing climate,” said Foster.
Foster says Kentucky has been on the wetter side this year, particularly in the Bluegrass Region. He says California is in the most vulnerable position with climate conditions, weather patterns, natural vegetation, and population growth outside cities.
