Recent climate change: Long-term trends in meteorological forest fire danger in the Alps

► Daily meteorological observations from 25 stations are grouped into 4 regions. ► Statistical percentile analysis of meteorological fire danger in the Alps. ► Strong increase of meteorological fire danger in the Western and Southern Alps. ► No significant changes in the Northern and Inner Alps during the last 60 years. ► Good correlation between indices and observed fires in pilot areas.