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The Keetch–Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is used to assess and predict wildfire potential and severity. Calculated once a day based on rainfall, air temperature and other meteorological factors, KBDI values represent the net effect of evapotranspiration and precipitation relating to the flammability of organic material in the ground. The index ranges from zero, the point of no moisture deficiency, to 800, the maximum drought that is possible. The higher the number, the greater potential of wildfires igniting easily and spreading rapidly.

Fire Danger

• Observed (national)
• Fire Danger Fact Sheet (PDF)

Fire Behavior

• Adjective Fire Behavior (PDF)
• Tables (PDF)

Fuel Moisture

• 10-hour fuel moisture
• 100–hour fuel moisture
• 1000-hour fuel moisture
• Live fuel moisture
• Greenness map
  • Visual
  • Relative
  • Departure from normal

Wildland Fire Assessment System (WFAS)

Current NFDRS Observations
Forecast NFRDS Observations
Observed Fire Danger
Forecast Fire Danger

Fire Intelligence

Southern Area Coordination Center (SACC)

National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC)

National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)

Situation

• National Situation Report (NICC)
• Morning Report (SACC)

Incident Management Teams

• Southern Area Teams
  – Rotation Schedule
  – Red Team Roster
  – Blue Team Roster
• National Interagency Team Schedule
  – Area Command Team Rotation
  – National Interagency Buying Team Rotation
  – National Interagency Incident Management Team
  – National Park Service All-Risk Team

Fire Weather

Southern Region Headquarters

Red Flag Warnings

• What is a Red Flag Warning?
• National Red Flag Warnings

RAWS Observations

• Southern Region RAWS
• South Carolina RAWS summaries

Radar and Satellite

• NWS Radar
• GOES 12 One Kilometer visible
• NCAR water vapor

Rainfall

• Forecast
  • Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts Day 1-7
  • CPC 6 – 10 day rainfall outlook
      
• Observed
  • Southeast
• Precipitation Analysis

National Weather Service Forecast Offices

South Carolina

Charleston

• Fire weather
• Local forecast
• Current Observation
• Spot forecast request

Columbia

• Fire weather
• Local forecast
• Current Observation
• Spot forecast request

Greenville/Spartanburg

• Fire weather
• Local forecast
• Current Observation
• Spot forecast request

Wilmington

• Fire weather
• Local forecast
• Current Observation
• Spot forecast request

Drought (KBDI)

• South Carolina Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) map
• South Carolina Drought Information (from State Climatology Office)
• Southeast Drought and Agricultural Information
• Keetch Byram Drought Index (Explained)
• National Keetch Byram Drought Index (KBDI)
• Haines Index (Explained)
• National Observed Haines Index
• Palmer Drought Severity Index Map (current)
• Palmer Drought Weekly Outlook
• Palmer Drought Eastern Monthly Outlook
• US Drought Monitor Map
• El Nino/La Nina Update
• Temperature Summary
• Precipitation Summaries

Preparedness

Predictive Service Areas (PSAs)

• NFDRS Appendix (PDF)
• NFRDS Fuel Model Descriptions (PDF)

Pocket Cards

• Firefighter Pocket Cards for the Southern Area

Thresholds

• Daily fire weather forecast
• RAWS hourly observations
• NFDRS current observations
• NFDRS forecast observations

Operating Plan

• South Carolina Fire Weather Annual Operating Plan

Fire Outlooks

Fire Danger

• Observed
• Fire weather forecast
• Fire Danger Factsheet (PDF)

National Fire Danger Outlook

• Monthly Outlook
• Seasonal Outlook    

Southern Area Fire Danger Outlook

• Monthly Outlook

Links

• National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC)
• National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)
• Southern Area Coordination Center (SACC)
• Wildland Fire Assessment System (WFAS)
• National Weather Service, Southern Region Headquarters
• NICC Predictive Services
• South Carolina Climatology Office

Staff

Darryl Jones
Forest Protection Chief
803-896-8817

Kris Robbins
GIS Manager
803-896-8816