a. Meteorologists use various weather data to predict the probability of catastrophic wildfires, including temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, recent precipitation levels, and soil moisture content. They also analyze long-term weather patterns and drought indicators to assess how conducive the environment is for wildfires.
b. The most suitable weather conditions for a wildfire to start include high temperatures, low humidity, strong winds, and dry vegetation. These factors create an environment where fires can ignite easily and spread rapidly, especially in areas that have experienced little rainfall over time.