As we come out of winter, longer days and warmer temperature cause grasses to green up. Cool season grasses respond first, followed in a month or so by the warm season grasses. As long as moisture is not limiting, this greenup will continue until summer temperatures climb and greenness begins to decline. In those areas where winter moisture and spring rains have been scarce, greenup will occur to a lesser extent and will not last long. When greenness declines and fuel moisture is low, fire danger will increase. In a normal year, the peak of greenness is May and June. Localized drought conditions, however, can change this dramatically.

Recent Greenness Maps

Click on an image to see a larger version.

7/28/2008	7/21/2008	7/14/2008	7/7/2008

Go to the Greenness Map Archive

For a view of the larger national picture visit the USDA Forest Service Wildland Fire Assessment System site.