Dry Conditions, Winds Lead To Brush Fire Concerns Wednesday

Dry, windy conditions in parts of the Hudson Valley have prompted the National Weather Service to issue a special weather statement. The statement affects Columbia, Dutchess and Ulster counties and is in effect through Wednesday.

The dry and windy conditions will result in an elevated risk of brush fires across the area Wednesday afternoon into the early evening.

Westerly winds will increase during the day Wednesday, with gusts as high as 40 to 50 mph during the mid-afternoon into the early evening.

These winds will combine with relative humidity values below 30 percent to bring an elevated risk of brush fires to the area.

The greatest risk may be in the mid-Hudson Valley south of Albany where temperatures Wednesday afternoon will reach near 60 degrees and the relative humidity will fall as low as 20 percent to 25 percent.