“These Fires Will Be Here til It Snows” – Minnesota Fire Assessment

I was hoping a spate of thunderstorms across Ontario and Northern Minnesota might dampen the fires that are choking the midwest with smoke, but the briefing from a National Weather Service Meteorologist above does not give me much hope.
Turns out that while the rain helps, the lightning starts even more fires.

Notably, the meteorologists describes the conditions that lead to the fires as well above normal temperatures and low humidity.

Another local report from Monday, yesterday, July 20, described additional storms and lightning, and quoted an official saying the fires would “be with us for a long time.”