, a new study suggests, and intensified that year’s North American wildfire season — a possible model of summers to come., concluded the heat dome in June and July 2021 was 34 per cent larger and lasted 59 per cent longer than a similar event would have without global warming. The sweltering temperatures across British Columbia, Washington and Oregon were subsequently linked to fires that accounted for up to one-third of the total area burned across the continent that year.
Jain said the issue of strained resources was also seen during the 2023 wildfire season, which once again shattered records for area burned — this time for an entire season in North American history. As more regions that typically share firefighting crews face their own fire risks simultaneously, the harder it will be to battle them effectively, he said.
Without that trend, the new study concluded, the 2021 heat dome would have been about two-thirds the size and 59 per cent shorter — nearly 16 fewer days of extreme heat.The study adds to a growing field of climate change-confirming research that other scientists say is important to further build on.