The rains encouraged vegetation growth, which then dried out over the winter drought leaving more potential fuel.

The region has a hot, tropical climate with a wet summer from November to March and a long winter drought.

Blocking highs were a key feature of the extreme winter droughts in southeastern Australia in 2006.

They are grayish-green above and felted beneath and may fall in times of winter drought.

But fellow growers in western Kansas, where the winter drought has been most severe, had more serious concerns.

We are having a winter drought.

Experts agree that the fires of 1988 came about as result of a winter drought, a hot dry summer, and unusually strong winds.

Their habitat includes water and hills, often with winter drought, and grass that is high enough to cover a standing deer.

Couple that abundance with winter drought, and fires - caused by lightning, arson or accident - are inevitable.

At higher elevations, snow falls frequently but usually in small quantities due to the winter drought.