Rawlings Consulting Forestry

Drought Index Map

The Keetch-Byram Drought Index Map was last updated on 05/09/08. Courtesy of the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources.

Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is a soil/duff drought index that ranges from 0 (no drought) to 800 (extreme drought) and is based on soil capacity of 8 inches of water. Factors in the index are maximum daily temperature, daily precipitation, antecedant precipitation, and annual precipitation.

0 - 200
Soil moisture and large class fuel moistures are high and do not contribute significantly to fire intensity.
201 - 300
301 - 400
Typical of late spring, early growing season. Lower litter and duff layers are drying and beginning to contribute to fire intensity.
401 - 500
501 - 600
Typical of late summer, early fall. Lower litter and duff layers burn intensely.
601 - 700
701 - 800
Associated with severe drought and increased wildfire occurrence. Intense, deep burning fires with significant downwind spotting. Extensive mop-up required. Live fuels burn actively.
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