Elevated Fire Risk in New Jersey: March 30th

As some of you know I have been spending time learning more about fire weather and fire weather forecasts. As I read and learn, I find myself appreciating that forecasting fire weather is not always simple. As I am neither a meteorologist or a wildland firefighter there is only so much that I can learn in my reading and studying. However, I'd like to think that knowledge is a good thing, and that learning the language of fire weather and fire weather forecasting can only help me. My learning process is still ongoing and as appropriate I'll try to share with you in later posts about some of the things that I have been learning. But the time to do this is not today. But I do want to offer my kudos and thanks to all who are involved in fire weather forecasting both in the United States and internationally, as well as kudos and thanks to all of you who are wildland firefighters who must know how weather will affect your weather.

In the meantime and speaking of fire weather, the NWS at Mount Holly, NJ issued an updated special weather statement at 10:31 AM this morning for an elevated fire risk in their forecast area (all but NE NJ, Delaware, southeastern PA, and the eastern shore of MD):

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1031 AM EDT WED MAR 30 2016

DEZ001>003-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012-013-015>023-
027-PAZ054-055-060>062-070-071-101>106-302300-
NEW CASTLE-KENT-INLAND SUSSEX-CECIL-KENT MD-QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT-
CAROLINE-SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX-
WESTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-
NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND-ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-
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...
ELKTON...CHESTERTOWN...CENTREVILLE...EASTON...DENTON...NEWTON...
WASHINGTON...MORRISTOWN...FLEMINGTON...SOMERVILLE...
NEW BRUNSWICK...FREEHOLD...TRENTON...PENNSVILLE...GLASSBORO...
CAMDEN...CHERRY HILL...MOORESTOWN...MOUNT HOLLY...JACKSON...
MILLVILLE...HAMMONTON...CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE...
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
1031 AM EDT WED MAR 30 2016

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

GUSTY WINDS AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL LEAD TO AN ELEVATED RISK FOR
THE SPREAD OF FIRES FROM ABOUT 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
SUNSET ACROSS DELAWARE, EASTERN MARYLAND, EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
AND MUCH OF NEW JERSEY. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INITIALLY BE EARLY IN
THE AFTERNOON BUT THEN INCREASE TO 10-15 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 20
MPH LATE IN THE DAY. MEANWHILE...RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL
LOWER TO BETWEEN 15 AND 25 PERCENT.

GIVEN THE EXPECTED WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LOW FUEL MOISTURE....
ANY FIRES THAT OCCUR COULD SPREAD QUICKLY AND BE DIFFICULT TO
CONTAIN. PLEASE VISIT YOUR STATE FORESTRY OR ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WILDFIRE
DANGER...BURN RESTRICTIONS...WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND EDUCATION.

As I was online getting ready to write this article, I noticed that the NWS at New York, NY issued an updated special weather statement at 11:01 AM this morning for an elevated fire risk in NE NJ:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
1105 AM EDT WED MAR 30 2016

NJZ002-004-006-103>108-302200-
WESTERN PASSAIC-EASTERN PASSAIC-HUDSON-WESTERN BERGEN-
EASTERN BERGEN-WESTERN ESSEX-EASTERN ESSEX-WESTERN UNION-
EASTERN UNION-
1105 AM EDT WED MAR 30 2016

SUSTAINED WINDS FROM THE SOUTHWEST TO SOUTH WILL INCREASE TO
10 TO 15 MPH WITH SOME GUSTS 20 TO 25 MPH POSSIBLE DURING THE MID
AND LATE AFTERNOON HOURS TODAY. AT THE SAME TIME...RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED TO AVERAGE 25 TO 30 PERCENT. THESE
CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH SUFFICIENTLY DRY FINE FUELS WILL PROMOTE
AN ELEVATED RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF BRUSH OR GRASS FIRES DURING
THIS PERIOD.

Stay safe everyone! And thanks to the wildland firefighters, mutual aid and everyone else working to keep us safe from wildfires today and everyday.

In New Jersey our wildland firefighters will be added by contract aircraft (thanks to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page for sharing the 2016 Contract Aviation Schedule)

State operated type 2 Huey UH-1H (type 2) helicopter: Division A -- Aeroflex (Delta 6) from March 22 through May 10 (estimated), as needed based on fire danger

35 day exclusive use SEAT Contract (March 30 through May 3):

Division B -- R.J.  Miller (Bravo 1), Air Tractor AT-802, 800 gallons

Division C -- Downstown (Charlie 1) Air Tractor AT-602, 600 gallons