Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Forest fires spread in warming climate

21:00
23 February 2022

Around the world
Forest fires spread in warming climate

Forest fire
© picture alliance

Wildfires around the world are continuing to grow in number and frequency as drought and manmade influence grows.

Two reports, the first from the UN and a second led by the University of Colorado Boulder, combine for a grim view of the future of wildfires.

Over the next 28 years, the rate of fires is forecast to jump by 30%. This includes impacting new, previously untouched, regions such as the Arctic tundra.

Meanwhile, as climate change builds and night times warm there will be no break in conditions likely to lead to fires.

Previously, cooler night time temperatures had allowed for firefighters to tackle harsh flames. Researchers now say that night temperatures are rising at a faster rate than day time temperatures with a 36% rise in after-dark conditions warm enough to maintain wildfires.

Fighting wildfires is costly, both financially and in the number of emergency services needed. In the US, where much of the west coast has seen extensive fires amid severe drought, an estimated $3.1 billion was spent on tackling the issue in 2021.

Australia, Siberia, western America, and southern Europe have seen extensive wildfire damage in recent years, with extreme heatwaves contributing to the situation.

In their report, the UN say nations should prioritise prevention and preparedness resources by allocating 45% of total budgets towards the two. Followed by response resources, for example firefighters, and then recovery.

The report says that many countries currently prioritise the response resources without tackling the root of the cause.

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Colourful skies and scenic clouds cover. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 20 September 2026
Split image showing a golden sunset over the sea beneath layered clouds and a pink-purple sunset reflected across calm riverside water.
Sunday, 20 September 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Colourful skies and scenic clouds cover
Warm weather despite the start of autumn. Temperatures worldwide. . . Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Temperature Radar for the Northern Hemisphere
Wednesday, 23 September 2026

Temperatures worldwide

Warm weather despite the start of autumn
Europe split in two distinct patterns. Autumn meets summer. . . Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Weather maps show a storm over the North Atlantic and temperatures of up to 37 degrees in Spain and Portugal.
Tuesday, 22 September 2026

Autumn meets summer

Europe split in two distinct patterns
All weather news
This might also interest you
Super Typhoon Bavi threatens Taiwan. Up to 1,000 mm of rain. . . Wednesday, 8 July 2026
The image shows an intense tropical cyclone over the western Pacific, east of Taiwan and the Philippines. The centre of the system is depicted as a light purple and white vortex with a clearly visible eye, surrounded by a ring of red and orange areas indicating the strongest wind speeds. A white arrow marks the typhoon’s predicted track towards the north-west, in the direction of Taiwan. To the west of the storm lie the Philippines, with the cities of Manila and Cebu; to the north of these lies Taiwan, with Taipei. Further west, the Chinese coast, including Hong Kong, and parts of Vietnam can be seen. The coloured wind map shows predominantly green areas outside the storm’s core, indicating significantly weaker winds. White streamlines illustrate the typhoon’s anti-clockwise circulation in the Northern Hemisphere. The highest wind speeds are concentrated around the eye of the cyclone.
Wednesday, 8 July 2026

Up to 1,000 mm of rain

Super Typhoon Bavi threatens Taiwan
A frozen start to the weekend. Icy conditions. . . Friday, 13 February 2026
UK temperature map dated 14.02 showing widespread subzero values in blue shading, with readings such as −4 in Glasgow, −3 in Dublin, and −2 in London, alongside a blue thermometer icon.
Friday, 13 February 2026

Icy conditions

A frozen start to the weekend
Historic Storm Éowyn arrives. On this day.... . . Saturday, 24 January 2026
Split image showing a person in a yellow jacket struggling against strong winds and heavy rain on a street at night on the left, and an Irish wind forecast map on the right with red and purple shading, gusts up to 75 mph, and a wind warning icon, divided by a curved white line.
Saturday, 24 January 2026

On this day...

Historic Storm Éowyn arrives
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList