Explore the outlook
On the Forecast map, rotate or zoom the globe. Select a colored region to open its outlook and dated evidence.
Plain-language reading guide
What the map is showing—and how to navigate it.
Auburn Globe contains two different layers: a seasonal forecast published at a fixed date and a newer observation layer assembled from public sources. Read them separately first, then use the comparison status to see how they currently relate.
Quick start
Three ways into the site.
Compare with today
Open Current fires. Choose “Published 2026 forecast” for the fixed study, or “Current 2026 wildfires” to search worldwide observations.
Check local sources
In a worldwide area view, open Government Resources for official incident maps, alerts, land agencies, and reporting channels.
Forecast colors
What red, orange, yellow, and green mean.
The colors rank broad regions against others in the same forecast panel. They do not represent emergency alert levels, current fire intensity, or percentage probabilities.
RED
Highest relative outlook
Conditions ranked in the highest group within that forecast panel.
ORANGE
Elevated relative outlook
Conditions ranked above the middle of that forecast panel.
YELLOW
Lower relative outlook
Conditions ranked below the elevated groups, while wildfire can still occur.
GREEN
Lowest relative outlook
Conditions ranked in the lowest group; this never means zero fire risk.
Comparison labels
What Tracking, Watch, Diverging, Unresolved, and Quiet mean.
These labels compare the earlier regional outlook with two current checks: recent satellite activity and an available public record of a large incident. They are comparison labels, not public warning levels.
TRACKING
A higher-outlook region has both strong recent satellite activity and a current large-incident record.
WATCH
A higher-outlook region does not currently meet both comparison checks.
DIVERGING
A lower-outlook region now has both strong satellite activity and a current large-incident record.
UNRESOLVED
The available evidence cannot support a clear comparison, often because incident coverage is incomplete, delayed, or unavailable.
QUIET
A lower-outlook region is below the satellite comparison threshold while the required sources are available.
Map symbols
Forecast areas and observed activity are different things.
Colored region: an approximate area used for the seasonal comparison. It is not a predicted fire perimeter.
Thermal mark: a satellite-detected heat signal. It may represent wildfire or another heat source and is not a count of individual fires.
Incident or event record: a named fire record supplied by an operational agency or a curated public event source.
Verified ≥10,000 ha record: an incident record large enough to meet the site’s current comparison check. Smaller fires remain important and may still appear.
Dates and freshness
Which timestamp should you read?
Forecast vintage is the date the outlook was issued. Observation window is the recent period included in a source pull. Latest source observation is the newest item supplied by that source. Last regional detection is the newest satellite mark inside the selected area. Retrieved is when Auburn Globe successfully received the data.
Refresh needed means a current transmission could not be confirmed. It does not mean zero fires. Verified snapshot means a dated stored record is being shown while a current source is incomplete.
Where the information comes from
Satellite, incident, event, and government sources.
NASA FIRMS supplies global satellite heat detections. NIFC and Canadian wildfire services supply operational records where current feeds are available. NASA EONET adds curated global event context. Area pages also link to relevant government incident maps, alert systems, fire authorities, and land or environment agencies.
Coverage differs by jurisdiction. Missing public incident data is displayed as incomplete or unavailable, never interpreted as proof that no wildfire exists.