2022 NJ wildfire season: March 28th update

 As I write this, it is abnormally cold with windy conditions as we approach spring fire season. We are also in a period of abnormally dry conditions in the northern part of New Jersey. I am not sure what these abnormally dry conditions bode for New Jersey, but I suspect that in the short term the dry conditions will complicate the spring fire season as dry conditions only increase wildfire danger. Today’s Fire Weather Planning Forecast from the NWS Mt Holly provides an overview of today’s fire weather concerns. Note that this is a planning forecast, New Jersey is not under a Red Flag Warning nor is there a Special Weather Statement for elevated wildfire concerns. to make matters even more interesting there is a chance of snow showers this afternoon.

Obtained on March 28, 2022 from https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

Fire Weather Planning Forecast

 National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ

 1006 AM EDT Mon Mar 28 2022

 

 .DISCUSSION...

 A cold and dry airmass will be in place today. Surface dew points 

 drop into the single digits to as low as 5 below, and west-northwest 

 winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 25 to 35 mph. Minimum relative 

 humidity values today will range from 20 to 25 percent (a little 

 higher in parts of the southern Poconos). Although scattered 

 flurries are possible in the afternoon, measurable precip is not 

 expected.

 

 Conditions only slightly improve on Tuesday with northwesterly

 winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph, and minimum relative

 humidity values ranging from 20-25% for most locations. There 

 will be much more sunshine Tuesday compared to today and 

 slightly warmer temperatures in the low to mid 40s.

It is brisk and cold here but I know that the NJ Forest Fire Service is taking care of those of us in New Jersey to keep us as safe as possible from wildfires. According to the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10  , fire towers in northern (NJFFS Section A) and Central New Jersey (NJFFS Section B) are staffed today, March 28th. Note that they NJFFS updates their website frequently so what you see may be different. I have no idea if these towers have a source of heat, if not it is cold. Likewise, if there is a wildfire, no matter how small, crews from the NJFFS along with local mutual aid as applicable will fight the wildfire.

Thank-you NJFFS!