Tanana Valley experienced the most persis- 

 tent drought on record during the growing sea- 

 son; total precipitation from February through 

 May totaled less than 50 percent of normal. The 

 only other growing season with comparable de- 

 ficiencies was 1950. A slight break came about 

 June 20, but the month's total was only 40 per- 

 cent of normal. The drought continued through 

 August and September; precipitation was only 

 about 20 percent of normal in the Fairbanks 

 area. 



More than 5 million acres burned this year, 

 a total far exceeding that of any other year of 

 record; this was 2 V 2 times the area burned in 

 1950. 



Comments.- On nil forest and range lands 

 the severe fire seasons are usually the years of 

 more critical weather. Fire-weather and fire- 

 danger rating records show this relation well. 

 Years with dry springs followed by dry summers 

 almost always have many large fires. Alaska 

 is no different from other States in that respect. 

 Observation of weather patterns and associated 

 fire history reveals that in Alaska the weather 

 does not always get hot and dry and stay that 

 way as some may think. Further research and 

 analysis will help produce guides whereby build- 

 up of critical fire seasons can be more easily 

 recognized; of importance too, use of such guides 

 will assist prediction of conditions which are not 

 critical. 



33 



