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Mike Flannigan

@mikeflannigan.bsky.social

2.3K followers 1K following 210 posts

fire guy, weather guy, researcher, professor and research chair. Thompson Rivers University

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Environmental science 66%

Geography 18%

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Reposted by John T. Abatzoglou

Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · 19h

🔥 New fire paper out - Fire regime changes in Canada: an update. Overall, the big-picture trends remain consistent: annual area burned, the annual number and size of large fires are still increasing, but the total number of fires for all sizes continue to decline.
cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/...

Fire regime changes in Canada: an update

Given the recent rise in extreme fires, we present an update to a previous Canadian wildfire trend analysis (1959-2015) with nine additional years of data (2016-2024), an improved area burned dataset,...

cdnsciencepub.com

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Reposted by Mike Flannigan

Mike Waddington 🇨🇦 @peatofmind.bsky.social · 2d

For over 15 years the McMaster Ecohydro Lab has awarded the #NobelPeatPrize to the authors of the best peatland or peat paper of the year.

It’s that time of year again where we review papers and finalize a list of nominees.

Do you have a fave paper for 2025 you would like us to consider?

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Reposted by Katharine Hayhoe, Scott C. Doney, Brian J. Enquist , and 9 more Katharine Hayhoe, Scott C. Doney, Brian J. Enquist, Marco Festa‐Bianchet, Ben Bond‐Lamberty, Mike Flannigan, Robin J. Pakeman, Patrick A. Jansen, Neil Pederson, Brian J. Harvey, Jussi T. Eronen, Hisham Zerriffi

Sally Aitken 🇨🇦 @sallyaitken.bsky.social · 14d

We are searching for a Forest Ecophysiologist (tenure track Assistant or Associate Professor) to join the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia Faculty of Forestry. Please share! Details are here: ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/ubcfacultyjobs

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Reposted by Mike Flannigan

BC Wildfire Weekly - Wildfires + More @bcwildfirewkly.bsky.social · 15d

“Wildfire smoke contains PM2.5 - a type of air pollution - that is known to trigger inflammation in the body. It can exacerbate conditions like asthma and heart disease...” www.bbc.com/news/article... - BBC News

#cdnpoli #uspoli #wildfires

US and Canada fight over who's to blame for wildfires

US officials have blamed Canada for not doing enough to stop its wildfire smoke from wafting south. Climate experts say it’s not so simple.

www.bbc.com

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Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · 15d

Some active fires in northern Alberta today. GOES-West geocolor loop below. Also, active fires in the Northwest Territories today (not shown in this loop).

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Reposted by Mike Flannigan

Adam Voiland @avoiland.bsky.social · 23d

Wildfires affect not just the air we breathe, but the water we drink. earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/15479...

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Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · 23d

🔥New paper - Comparative Analysis of Ensemble and Deterministic Models for Fire Weather Index (FWI) System Forecasting.
Ensemble forecasts for fire management decision-making include probabilistic fire growth modelling, long-term strategic planning etc.

journals.ametsoc.org/view/journal...

Graph showing Continuous Ranked Probability Score (CRPS) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and lead time for the Fire Weather Index for ensembles and deterministic forecast

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Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · 26d

UBC-O just posted two full-time term lecturer positions in fire ecology as part of the Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program

The positions will handle fire ecology courses and prescribed fire training.

Applications are open until October 31, 2025.

ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcfac...

Lecturer - Fire Ecology

Academic Job Category Faculty Bargaining Job Title Lecturer - Fire Ecology Department UBCO | Faculty | Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences | Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science (Kevin Hanna...

ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com

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Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · 26d

The 2025 BC fire season area burned (872k ha) has moved into 5th place with the recent fire activity. This means that the top 6 fire seasons have been since 2017 (records go back to 1950) Area burned-red bars (2017-2025 graph below) far exceeds the green bars (1950-2016). Climate change in action.

Graph of annual area burned in BC 1950-2025

Map showing locations and status of fires in BC
https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/map

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Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · 28d

Clark's Nutcracker play a pivotal role in the regeneration of Whitebark Pine

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Reposted by Mike Flannigan

Julia Levin @jflevin.bsky.social · 29d

3 out of 4 Canadians are concerned about the climate crisis, up 15-points since October 2024, according to Abacus

abacusdata.ca/public-conce...

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Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · 29d

New study in Nature on the Long-range PM2.5 pollution and health impacts from the 2023 Canadian wildfires

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

'We find that 354 million (277–421 million) people in North America and Europe were exposed to daily PM2.5 air pollution caused by Canadian wildfires in 2023'

figure 3 from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09482-1
–c, Daily PM2.5 exposure in Canada (a), from fire sources in different source regions, anthropogenic sources and other sources (for example, biogenic, dust and sea salt). d–f, Cumulative fire-related PM2.5 exposures in Canada (d), from different source regions.

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Reposted by Mike Flannigan

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Sep 9

Breaking News: The U.S. will provide wildfire fighters with masks, reversing a ban after a New York Times series on smoke and firefighters’ health.

U.S. Wildfire Fighters to Mask Up After Decades-Long Ban on Smoke Protections

The Forest Service is reversing course as it faces growing pressure over workers falling ill with cancer and lung disease. The move is part of a flurry of changes to aid firefighters.

nyti.ms

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Reposted by Mike Flannigan

Kyle Brittain @badweatherkyle.bsky.social · Sep 9

Discussing the current wildfire situation in Canada, with guest Mike Flannigan - wildfire expert and professor at Thompson Rivers University.

Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwOW...

@mikeflannigan.bsky.social

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Reposted by Mike Flannigan

Kyle Brittain @badweatherkyle.bsky.social · Sep 8

Canada's wildfire season is still going strong, especially out west.

Join Mike Flannigan and me LIVE tomorrow evening (Monday) at 8 PM MDT / 7 PM PDT for a discussion and Q&A.

Bring your questions!

Chat will be streamed here:

youtube.com/@KylesForeca...

@mikeflannigan.bsky.social

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Reposted by Katharine Hayhoe, Ben Bond‐Lamberty, Mike Flannigan , and 3 more Katharine Hayhoe, Ben Bond‐Lamberty, Mike Flannigan, Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Julie L. Lockwood, Peter Brown

Tom Swetnam @firescar.bsky.social · Sep 7

Our op-ed in the Santa Fe New Mexican today highlights the potential losses from closure of the nine US Forest Service Regional Offices, namely local leadership knowledge and capacity, experienced people, and priceless documentary records: www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_v...

The legacy lost when Forest Service offices shut down

After 117 years of operation, the U.S. Forest Service’s Southwest Regional Office in Albuquerque is closing by order of the secretary of agriculture. Since 1908, this office has directed the

www.santafenewmexican.com

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Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · Sep 3

Double Yikes for BC wildfires
Lots of lightning this weekend in BC (& WA-OR-ID) after a very long hot & dry period. Fuels are receptive (Duff Moisture Code is high - means very dry fuels where ltg fires typically ignite). If the forecast holds, I expect 100-200 new fire starts during Sept. 6-9 in BC

Lighting forecast for this Saturday for Canada - lots of lightning over BC - WA -OR-ID https://meteologix.com/ca/model-charts/euro/canada/lightning-density/20250907-0000z.html

Duff Moisture Code for Canada for Sept 6 - shows high dmc values over parts of western canada
https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/maps/fw?type=dmc&year=2025&month=09&day=06

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Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · Sep 3

BC has 64 out of control wildfires burning and many of these are burning intensely. GOES-West 3.9 micron band (sensitive to high temperatures from wildfires) loop below showing active fires (white) and very active fires (red)

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Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · Sep 3

Numerous large and active fires in central BC producing large smoke flumes. GOES- West geocolor below.

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Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · Sep 2

Some late fire season fires in the Yukon. GOES-West geocolor loop below.

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Reposted by Gavin L. Foster, Du Toit, Mike Flannigan

Nahel Belgherze @wxnb.bsky.social · Sep 1

This is not normal. Japan is continuing its run of astonishing temperature records. The country has just had its hottest summer for the third year in a row, and by a substantial margin. Data: JMA

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Reposted by Du Toit, Mike Flannigan

Mark Parrington @mparrington.bsky.social · Sep 1

Global #wildfires #openburning intensity & emissions for August 2025 in #CopernicusAtmosphere Monitoring Service GFAS data ads.atmosphere.copernicus.eu/datasets/cam.... Ongoing extreme Canada fires, record Spain+European fires & peak seasonal tropical fires @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social @ecmwf.int

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Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · Aug 31

Lots of fire in BC today - 140 active fires with 58 out of control. Some lightning today and tomorrow but possibly lots of lightning next Friday - Saturday in BC - Pacific NW. This would be after another hot -dry week means forest fuels would be very receptive to lightning strikes (ECMWF ltg map)

Map from BC Wildfire Service showing location and status of fires in BC
https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/dashboard

ECMWF lightning flash density map for much of North America
https://meteologix.com/ca/model-charts/euro/canada/lightning-density/20250907-0000z.html

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Reposted by Mike Flannigan

Cabin Radio @cabinradio.ca · Aug 30

Fort Providence issues evacuation alert

Fort Providence has issued an evacuation alert while a new evacuation notice has been issued for Jean Marie River due to wildfires.

Fort Providence issues evacuation alert

Fort Providence has issued an evacuation alert while a new evacuation notice has been issued for Jean Marie River due to wildfires.

cabinradio.ca

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Reposted by Mike Flannigan

Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · Aug 30

I'll host a special Labor Day livestream on 9/1 @ 10am PT to discuss the upcoming extreme/record-breaking western Canadian heatwave, the complex and unusual weather pattern driving it, and implications for (lesser) CA heat & West Coast wildfire. #CAwx #CAfire

Weather & climate office hour 9/1/25: Rare weather pattern to bring extreme BC heat & lesser CA heat - YouTube

The latest in a recurring series of live, virtual, & interactive "office hours" hosted by Dr. Daniel Swain on various topics related to extreme weather and c...

www.youtube.com

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Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · Aug 30

smoke may reach central AB by Monday according to this smoke model. Air quality looks terrible for northern AB

weather.gc.ca/firework/fir...

Wildfire Smoke Fine Particulate Matter PM2.5 - 72h Hourly Maps at Ground Level - 12 UTC - Environment Canada

Weather Maps, Maps, Modelling, Numerical Weather Forecasting

weather.gc.ca

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Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · Aug 30

Good idea. Btw, the post meant to stay the winds increase ahead of the front (usually SW) and then shift to NW after the front goes through so that the flank or side of the fire becomes the head of the fire

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Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · Aug 30

A double whammy - a smoke front followed by a cold front in NWT. Lots of very active fires in the NWT producing lots of smoke - GOES-West geocolor loop below. Expect significant growth on fires today as winds increase ahead of the fire and then shifts directions so that the flank becomes the head

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Reposted by Mike Flannigan

Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · Aug 30

open.substack.com/pub/cepp/p/u...

The Laws that Hold Utilities Liable for Wildfires are Changing

As wildfire risk grows across the West, lawmakers are reconsidering when and how to make utilities pay for fire damages. Will changes to liability law prevent a crisis or create a new one?

open.substack.com

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Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · Aug 29

Whati NWT issues an evacuation order due to a wildfire

www.nnsl.com/home/whati-i...

hotspot image for NWT August 29 from Firms shows a large fire to the SW of Whati NWT
https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#m:advanced;d:24hrs;l:fires_goes_Him9,fires_goes_Met11,fires_goes_Met9,fires_goes_all,fires_goes_g18,fires_goes_g18frp,fires_goes_g19,fires_goes_g19frp,fires_landsat_landsat,fires_modis_aqua,fires_modis_terra,fires_viirs_noaa20,fires_viirs_noaa21,fires_viirs_snpp,countries,earth;@-115.8,62.3,8.0z

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