El Nino: An increasing threat in 2026
Given the regional threats, the number of wildfires in the Southeastern US has increased this spring. By mid-May 2026, U.S. wildfires had burned nearly 1.9 million acres nationwide, with more than 25,500 fires recorded—well above the 10-year average of 17,713 fires and about 1,052,600 acres for the same period. Looking state by state, Florida has been most affected. Nearly 120,000 acres of land has burned so far this year, according to NASA, with the drought expected to increase in intensity and extent through January 2026. But who is promoting this? Well, according to Wood, it’s a lack of rainfall mixed with the El Nino threat.
