Critical Chance of Fire for Middlesex, Monmouth Tuesday, National Weather Service Warns

A Red Flag Warning for forest, brush and home fires has been issued for Tuesday, April 19 by the National Weather Service for all of New Jersey, including Monmouth and Middlesex counties.

On Monday, a Fire Weather Watch was issued and that "watch" has now been upgraded to a warning.

"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," the National Weather Service announced. "Any fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain."

Outdoor burning is not recommended.

The height of New Jersey's fire season is from mid-March to mid-May. That's a time of low humidity in the area, and wood is often dry, as leaves have not yet grown on trees, Larry Hajna, state DEP spokesman told the APP.

The low humidity means fires can grow and spread rapidly: A fire quickly tore through a home in South Brunswick Monday; a home was destroyed by a fire Sunday night in Aberdeen and a 10-acre wildfire broke out in Brick Monday. A fast-moving blaze tore through an entire block of buildings in Keyport earlier this month, killing three cats.

The fire warning is in effect for all of New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and the eastern shore of Maryland.

The warning will be in effect from noon to 8 p.m. when the critical fire weather conditions will be at its highest (from midday through sunset).

Tuesday's forecast weather includes northerly winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, humidity as low as 25 percent, and temperatures in the upper 60s.