Increasing winds and dropping dew points are setting the stage for fire weather in all of New Jersey and Delaware, most of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and portions of New York, West Virginia, and Virginia. As a result of that threat, the National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings for the region.
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels. Any fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain.
In the warning area today, dry, windy conditions are expected. West winds of 15-25mph are forecast with gusts up to 40mph. Relative humidity is forecast to drop into the 20%-30% range while air temperatures remain in the 50’s and 60’s. Low humidity and high winds could promote the rapid spread of wildfires.
Just days ago, a large fire spread over portions of southern New Jersey, bringing smoke and ash well north of the fire area into portions of New York City. That fire charred more than 18 square miles or 11,600 acres in the Garden State.
