Craters of the Moon National Monument
VI. Wildland Fire Management Situation
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Wildland Fire Management Plan Craters of the Moon National Monument VI. Wildland Fire Management Situation |
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A. Historic Weather Analysis
Craters of the Moon is located on the northern slope of the Snake River Plain. The area receives weather fronts from as far south as the Gulf of Mexico to Arctic fronts from the north; its primary weather pattern is to receive Pacific Ocean storms or high pressure systems that pass over the west coast between northern California and Washington. Annual precipitation averages 12" to 15", much of it from winter snow.
Summer weather is generally mild to hot and windy with clear skies except for occasional thunderstorms. Summer thunderstorms associated with "dry" lightning are common, with rainfall amounts ranging from heavy to non-existent. Spring can be dry and warm or cold and rainy, thunderstorms are rare. It can stay hot, dry, and windy, with occasional thunderstorm activity, well into September.
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Craters of the Moon NM, Idaho (102260) Monthly Climate Summary Period of Record 12/1/1958 to 10/31/1999 |
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May |
June |
July |
August |
Sept. |
Oct. |
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Ave. Max. Temp. (F) |
64.5 |
74.3 |
84.3 |
82.6 |
71.6 |
59.1 |
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Ave. Min. Temp. (F) |
36.8 |
44.5 |
51.8 |
50.1 |
40.9 |
31.3 |
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Ave. Precipitation (in.) |
1.76 |
1.3 |
0.70 |
0.87 |
0.89 |
0.87 |
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Max. Temp. Extreme (F) |
88 |
98 |
100 |
97 |
92 |
85 |
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Min. Temp. Extreme (F) |
15 |
25 |
30 |
30 |
16 |
2 |
B. Fuel Characteristics
Detailed description of fuel types found within the monument is contained in Appendix E.
C. Fire Season
Fire season is strongly dependent on seasonal variation with climate. The "normal fire season" at Craters of the Moon is based on cumulative fire and weather records. Generally speaking, fire season begins about May 15 and ends September 15.
The typical fire weather pattern doesn't begin until June. The month of May can vary tremendously from wet and cold to warm, dry, and windy weather. June through August is generally sunny, windy, and dry with September being much like May. Snow has been recorded as late as early June and as early as the first week in September. Summer temperatures range from the 70's to a maximum high of 95-100° with lows from the 30's to 50's. Isolated thunderstorm cells travel through rapidly bringing sometimes intense lightning activity associated with anywhere from zero rainfall to heavy, brief rains. Winds are commonly from the west or southwest with erratic changes during storm activity. Wind speed picks up with morning heat, commonly gusting 15-20 mph during the day, generally not slowing until early evening hours. High winds during storm activity of 30-40 mph are not uncommon.
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