Abstract Recent years have seen severe wildfires in the Northern Hemisphere. This study statistically links atmospheric blocks to extreme fire weather (FDP99 ${\text{FD}}{\mathit{P99}}$) and observed fires (OF) across seasons from 1979 to 2020. Based on co‐location and odds ratio statistics, we find that a substantial part of FDP99 ${\text{FD}}{\mathit{P99}}$ co‐occurs with blocks. In areas where blocks occur regularly, blocks increase the odds of FDP99 ${\text{FD}}{\mathit{P99}}$ by a factor of 4–5, with up to a 30‐fold increase locally. The link between blocks and FDP99 ${\text{FD}}{\mathit{P99}}$ is stronger at latitudes north of 50° ${}^{\circ}$N, but exhibits regional and seasonal variations. We also find a significant link between blocks and OF in the Arctic regions during summer. This study reveals new links between atmospheric blocks and wildfire danger.
Observations from the Little Bunker
Last updated: November 30, 2025 04:25 AM
Atmospheric CO₂
426.8 ppm
+18.1
ppm/year
Atmospheric CH₄
1927.61 ppb
+2.73
ppb/year
Global Temperature
+1.48 °C
Peak: +1.73°C
World Population
8.1 billion
+67
million/year