Abstract. The Haines Index is an operational tool for evaluating the potential contribution of dry, unstable air to the development of large or erratic plume-dom:inated wildfires. The index has three variants related to surface elevation, and is calculated from temperature and hmnidity measurements at atmospheric pressure levels. To effectively use the Haines Index, fire forecasters and managers must be aware ofthe climatological and statistical characteristics ofthe index for their location. However, a detailed, long-term, and spatially extensive analysis of the index does not currently exist. To meet this need, a 40-year (1961-2000) climatology of the Haines Index was developed for NOlihAmerica. The climatology is based on gridded (2.5" latitude x 2.5 0 longitude) temperature and humidity fields from the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis. The climatology illustrates the large spatial variability in the Haines Index both within and between regions using the different index vmiants. These spatial variations point to the limitations of the index and must be taken into account when using the Haines Index operationally.