MOSCOW, 12 Aug. A strong shortage of precipitation for three months led to the emergence of conditions for forest fires in Yakutia, Karelia and the Irkutsk region, scientific director of the Hydrometeorological Center Roman Vilfand told RIA Novosti. According to Rosleskhoz, 8.2 million hectares of forest were covered by fire on July 11. Currently, 1.6 million hectares of forest are being extinguished, while 1.4 million hectares are being extinguished in Yakutia.
«In the Siberian Federal District, 65% fell in three months, and in July 43% of the norm. This is a strong deficit, and a deficit is considered if the precipitation is less than 80%, in the Altai Territory — 77%, in July — 48% … In Yakutia, where there are most of the fires, only 75%, but there the norms are small, there the norm is 53 millimeters, and here it fell even less. This precipitation deficit is the main cause of fires, «Vilfand said.
He also noted that in Karelia, where there were also strong fires, half of the monthly norm fell in July. “This is a completely small value. I must say that the norm is small: only 64 millimeters, but 34 millimeters fell. That is, half of the monthly norm fell, conditions for the emergence of forest fires were created. from May to July, precipitation fell only 58% of the norm, in Ulyanovsk — 79%, in Tatarstan — 62%, in Bashkiria — 53%, «Vilfand said.
Hydrometeorological center warned of abnormal weather in most of Russia