Weather & Science

What’s Behind New York Fires? Climate Change, Land Use and History

  • Evolving land use, invasive species add to the threats
  • Northeast states struggle with drought as fires spread
Wildfires Burning Throughout a Dry Northeast
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Wildfires that are raging across New York and New Jersey highlight a new threat to one of the world’s most affluent regions.

Climate change is regarded by scientists as the pre-eminent factor driving long-term changes in weather, and the New York region is experiencing a severe drought — the Big Apple experienced its driest October on record. Dry, hot weather underpins fire danger across the globe today.