6 JULY 1998. FLORIDA: FIRES
FROM NOAA: http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/floridafires.html: "Information
on Florida's unusual weather that set the stage for its raging forest fires
has been placed on the World Wide Web by NOAA. The Web site, developed
by NOAA's National Climatic Data Center , was unveiled by Vice President
Al Gore, who visited fire sites in Florida. The Web site, titled "Florida
Wild Fires and Climate Extremes," explains how Florida's unusual weather
led to the fires. The unusually wet mild winter in Florida promoted abundant
growth in the underbrush. This weather was immediately followed by a severe
drought during April, May and June, which rapidly dried out the dense underbrush.
This combination -- wet and mild in the winter, dry and hot in the summer
-- provided abundant fuel to the wildfires throughout Florida. Details
on recent abnormal weather, including temperature and precipitation as
well as drought indices, are available on the Web site. Links to related
Web sites, such as NOAA satellite imagery of the fires and the fire forecast,
are provided."--http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ol/climate/research/1998/fla/florida.html.
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1997 El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO 97-98)