‘Bell’ for forest fires after rains: Increase in flammability by August 21

The rainfall and lower than climatically expected temperatures that prevailed in Greece from Thursday 11/8 to Sunday 14/8 resulted in the significant limitation of flammability of dead forest fuels. In particular, based on measurements from the network of automatic weather stations of the National Observatory of Athens (EAA)/meteo.gr, the flammability of dead forest fuels at noon on Sunday is estimated to have been at low levels for the season in most of the country.

However, based on the latest available forecast data analyzed by the EAA/meteo.gr pyrometeorological team FLAME, the flammability of dead forest fuels is expected to show significant increase in during the new week of August 15 to 21. The reason for this increase is the projected gradual rise in temperature to values ​​much higher than climatically expected, combined with the prevalence of dry conditions.

Under these conditions, dead forest fuels, especially the finer ones such as leaves, needles, small branches and logs, shed moisture into the atmosphere and dry out quickly. This has the effect of facilitating ignition, provided there is a source of heat, and then sustaining combustion and spreading the fire quickly.

Based on the forecast of the moisture content of dead forest fuels for Wednesday 17/8, it is expected, within a period of only three days, to have fallen below 10% in the largest part of the country. These values ​​create a favorable background for the occurrence and spread of forest fires.

RES-EMP

Read the News today and get the latest news. Follow us on Google News and be the first to learn all the news from Skai.gr.