Elevated Fire Risk in New Jersey: March 23rd

For the second day in a row there is an elevated fire risk in New Jersey, today all but northeast New Jersey has an elevated fire risk (not quite meeting Red Flag Warning criteria) along with adjoining areas of Pennsylvania and the State of Delaware. In addition, elevated fire risk extends into all of: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and the Carolinas. The National Weather Service offices covering those states have issued Special Weather Statements or Hazardous Weather Outlooks (not quite meeting Red Flag Warning criteria) for elevated or enhanced risk of wildfires.

According to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page who posted today that all fire towers in New Jersey (Divisions A, B, and C) are staffed today. Regarding yesterday's (March 22nd) elevated fire risk, I have only heard of small fire activity (around 1/2 acre or so) yesterday. But there may be activity that I do not know of.

Here is the Special Weather Statement for elevated fire risk issued by the National Weather Service at Mt. Holly at 9:08 AM on March 23rd.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
908 AM EDT WED MAR 23 2016

DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-
055-060>062-070-071-101>106-232300-
NEW CASTLE-KENT-INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-CECIL-KENT MD-
QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT-CAROLINE-SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-
SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX-WESTERN MONMOUTH-EASTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM-
GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND-
ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY-COASTAL ATLANTIC-
COASTAL OCEAN-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-CARBON-MONROE-BERKS-LEHIGH-
NORTHAMPTON-DELAWARE-PHILADELPHIA-WESTERN CHESTER-EASTERN CHESTER-
WESTERN MONTGOMERY-EASTERN MONTGOMERY-UPPER BUCKS-LOWER BUCKS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WILMINGTON...DOVER...GEORGETOWN...
REHOBOTH BEACH...ELKTON...CHESTERTOWN...CENTREVILLE...EASTON...
DENTON...NEWTON...WASHINGTON...MORRISTOWN...FLEMINGTON...
SOMERVILLE...NEW BRUNSWICK...FREEHOLD...SANDY HOOK...TRENTON...
PENNSVILLE...GLASSBORO...CAMDEN...CHERRY HILL...MOORESTOWN...
MOUNT HOLLY...JACKSON...MILLVILLE...HAMMONTON...
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE...OCEAN CITY...ATLANTIC CITY...
LONG BEACH ISLAND...WHARTON STATE FOREST...JIM THORPE...
STROUDSBURG...READING...ALLENTOWN...BETHLEHEM...MEDIA...
PHILADELPHIA...HONEY BROOK...OXFORD...WEST CHESTER...
KENNETT SQUARE...COLLEGEVILLE...POTTSTOWN...NORRISTOWN...
LANSDALE...CHALFONT...PERKASIE...MORRISVILLE...DOYLESTOWN
908 AM EDT WED MAR 23 2016

...AN ELEVATED RISK FOR SPREAD OF FIRES THIS AFTERNOON...

GUSTY WINDS...ALONG WITH LOWERING RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES AND
DRYING FUELS WILL LEAD TO AN ELEVATED RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF
FIRES THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL GUST FROM THE SOUTHWEST UP TO 25
MPH AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL LOWER TO AROUND 30 PERCENT.