Climate change is increasing the risk of deadly wildfires. This fact was made clear this year when the devastating Smokehouse Creek Fire spread through the Texas Panhandle, burning over 1 million acres and killing two people.
How does global warming contribute to the higher number of wildfires? Here is what the experts say.
How Climate Change Influenced the Deadly Smokehouse Creek Fire
Human-caused climate change is heating up the planet and raising the odds of wildfires nearly everywhere. The Smokehouse Creek Fire seemingly came out of nowhere, igniting at the end of February and eventually becoming the largest wildfire in Texas state history.
The timing and the intensity of the winter wildfire caught everyone off guard. What laid the groundwork for the blaze to erupt?