Texas annual wildfire season during the late winter months was particularly dangerous this year.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire in Hutchinson County burned for nearly three weeks earlier this year, killing two people and torching over 1 million acres. The Windy Deuce Fire burned through more than 144,000 acres in Moore, Hutchinson, Potter and Carson counties.

Rising temperatures and vapor pressure deficiency could lead to both lower humidity and increased surface dryness in the future, Nielsen-Gammon wrote.

While parts of Texas already face increased wildfire risks, such as the Panhandle, increased dryness statewide could expand the threat eastward.

“At the same time, increased temperatures should allow very dry conditions to develop earlier in the year, lengthening both the spring and summer wildfire seasons,” Nielsen-Gammon wrote.

Droughts expected to intensify in Texas

Drought conditions affect most Texas counties throughout the year. Fears of losing groundwater is a concern each year as the state breaks heat records. Water is a resource that farmers, ranchers and the state’s sprawling suburbia consume thirstily.

According to Nielsen-Gammon’s report, droughts in the state are likely to become more severe due to rising temperatures and greater variability of rainfall. By 2036, a 7% increase in summertime evaporative losses is expected to exacerbate drought conditions as surface water dries up faster.

“The majority of factors point toward increased drought severity, including more erratic runoff into reservoirs,” Nielsen-Gammon wrote.

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