Critical Fire Conditions Forecast For Monday

by Patricia A. Miller

Monday’s weather will be a trifecta of strong winds, low humidity and tinder-dry woods, ideal conditions for wildfires.

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a fire weather watch from Monday afternoon through Monday evening for almost all of New Jersey except for barrier island communities and Eastern Pennsylvania.

“Any wildfires that develop during the afternoon will have the potential to spread rapidly,” the NWS said. ”Outdoor burning is not recommended. A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidities and dry fuels.”

Winds will be from the southwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour, with gusts up to 25. The peak gusts will occur mostly in the afternoon. The relatively humidity will dip to as low as 25 percent in the afternoon and early evening, the NWS says.

The state Department of Environmental Protection‘s State Forestry Service has categorized the fire danger as high.

“All fine dead fuels ignite readily and fires start easily from most causes,” the website states. ”Unattended brush and campfires are likely to escape. Fires spread rapidly and short-distance spotting is common. High-intensity burning may develop on slopes or in concentrations of fine fuels. Fires may become serious and their control difficult unless they are attacked successfully while small.”

The affected New Jersey counties include, Ocean, Monmouth, Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Northwestern Burlington, Salem, Somerset, Southeastern Burlington, Sussex, Warren and Western Monmouth.