National Weather ServiceFire Weather WatchVTEC FW.AArchive to October 1, 2026
Fire Weather Watch: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 576 fire weather watches in 2025 and 771 a year on average in 2008-2025; Texas, Colorado and New Mexico got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 707, 7% above the average of 658 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is a fire weather watch?
A fire weather watch means critical fire weather conditions are possible in the coming days; it often comes before a red flag warning. A watch means the conditions for the hazard are possible or favourable, but it is not yet happening: be ready to act if a warning follows.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many fire weather watches a year?
National count: each fire weather watch counted once, whatever the number of states it covers. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 707 |
| 2025 | 576 |
| 2024 | 642 |
| 2023 | 566 |
| 2022 | 871 |
| 2021 | 762 |
| 2020 | 724 |
| 2019 | 319 |
| 2018 | 690 |
| 2017 | 583 |
| 2016 | 645 |
| 2015 | 502 |
| 2014 | 660 |
| 2013 | 537 |
| 2012 | 1,190 |
| 2011 | 1,189 |
| 2010 | 1,216 |
| 2009 | 947 |
| 2008 | 1,258 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
When in the year?
Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
Which states get the most fire weather watches?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A fire weather watch covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 122 | 139 | 105 |
| Colorado | 103 | 80 | 90 |
| New Mexico | 84 | 94 | 75 |
| Kansas | 65 | 55 | 45 |
| Nebraska | 65 | 42 | 60 |
| California | 49 | 62 | 36 |
| Wyoming | 44 | 43 | 20 |
| Oregon | 36 | 34 | 25 |
| Oklahoma | 35 | 38 | 21 |
| South Dakota | 32 | 20 | 30 |
| Montana | 27 | 24 | 4 |
| Arizona | 24 | 35 | 25 |
| Utah | 24 | 21 | 26 |
| Washington | 21 | 20 | 25 |
| Nevada | 21 | 30 | 19 |
| Minnesota | 19 | 14 | 21 |
| Iowa | 17 | 9 | 17 |
| Idaho | 13 | 16 | 7 |
| North Dakota | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Florida | 8 | 99 | 11 |
| Michigan | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Virginia | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Wisconsin | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| Georgia | 5 | 17 | 6 |
| Missouri | 5 | 6 | 9 |
| North Carolina | 5 | 5 | 9 |
| Alaska | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| Pennsylvania | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Maryland | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Louisiana | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Alabama | 3 | 23 | 0 |
| Mississippi | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Illinois | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| New York | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| West Virginia | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Indiana | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| South Carolina | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Hawaii | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Connecticut | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| New Jersey | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Arkansas | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| District of Columbia | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Vermont | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Ohio | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Tennessee | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Maine | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Delaware | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| New Hampshire | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Puerto Rico | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.