Ontario Drought Monitor & Wildfire Conditions
Ontario's drought context provides longer-term dryness information to complement current northern wildfire incidents, daily Fire Weather Index, smoke and AQHI observations.
National drought conditions are assessed monthly using multiple indicators and expert interpretation.
FireRadar links to the current official assessment rather than estimating a drought class between AAFC releases. Historic monthly maps and change analysis remain available from the official source.
Canadian Drought Monitor scale
How drought relates to wildfire conditions in Ontario
Northern Ontario's immense forest region can have very different moisture conditions from southern population centres. Use drought maps as regional background rather than a uniform province-wide wildfire threat rating or a prediction of where smoke will originate. Recent rainfall, wind, fuels, lightning and suppression activity still determine shorter-term outcomes.
Drought
Longer-term moisture deficit and dryness context from the monthly AAFC national assessment.
Fire Weather Index
Daily weather-based fire-potential guidance from NRCan CWFIS. It can change much faster than monthly drought status.
Active wildfires
Actual current incident records from responsible wildfire authorities. These remain separate from both drought and forecast products.