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
Getting through the latest heatwave. Tips to beat the heat. . . Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Split graphic showing temperatures up to 35°C in England and 28°C in Ireland beside a person applying sunscreen, with a heat warning symbol highlighting hot weather.
Tuesday, 11 August 2026

Tips to beat the heat

Getting through the latest heatwave
Hottest day of the year so far. Close to August record. . . Thursday, 13 August 2026
Temperature map of London showing 38.1°C at Kew Gardens, with surrounding readings of 35–36°C and deep red shading indicating extreme heat.
Thursday, 13 August 2026

Close to August record

Hottest day of the year so far
Your moments from the solar eclipse. A unique sight. . . Wednesday, 12 August 2026
Split image showing a total solar eclipse glowing through dramatic clouds on the left and a multi-exposure eclipse sequence tracing the Sun across a blue sky on the right.
Wednesday, 12 August 2026

A unique sight

Your moments from the solar eclipse
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
Flooding, gales, and heavy snow. Storm Chandra. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
Long-term trends need a pinch of salt. 40 °C in July?. . . Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Temperature radar of 2022 heatwave where the all-time temperature record in the UK was set. Warning symbol overlain.
Tuesday, 30 June 2026

40 °C in July?

Long-term trends need a pinch of salt
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