Elevated Fire Weather Potential Today In the Hudson Valley: NWS

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The National Weather Service warns of dry, windy conditions Friday that could aid in the spread of fires. The NWS says high pressure will continue to dominate our weather through the weekend with dry and unseasonably warm conditions. Special Weather Statements were issued:

For Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester:

A dry air mass will combine with increasing northwesterly winds to create conditions conducive for fire spread today. Relative humidity is expected to decrease to 30 to 35 percent across most of the area during this time, although it may dip into the upper 20s in the NY/NJ metro area. Additionally, winds are expected to gust around 20 mph. These conditions could aid in fire spread if ignition occurs.

For Dutchess, Greene and Ulster:

Dry conditions persist across eastern New York with the overall recent lack of precipitation. Today, northwest winds will gust up to 25 mph. These winds will combine with warmer than normal temperatures in the 60s, and a dry airmass, to yield minimum relative humidity values of 30 to 40 percent. This will lead to an elevated fire weather potential during the day time today.

Mainly clear sky conditions are expected for Friday and Saturday with highs in the mid 70s in the metro area and upper 60s to lower 70s elsewhere, the NWS says. Lows tonight will range between 40 and 50 in suburban and rural locations and lower to mid 50s in the more urbanized areas. Highs on Saturday will be a few degrees warmer than Friday, generally in the mid to upper 70s.