Friday, April 29, 2022

2022 wildfire season: Red Flag Warnings in Southwest and Mid-Atlantic

 Most morning the first thing I do is to check my local National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWS Philadelphia/Mt Holly) to get the current weather forecast and to be aware of any current weather hazards. So the first thing I noticed is that New Jersey and adjoining areas in Pennsylvania are under a Red Flag Warning for the second day in a row. Along with chilly temperatures (brrr!). 

Obtained on April 29, 2022 from https://www.weather.gov/phi/

When I was listening to the news on the radio earlier this morning, the reporter mentioned that portions of the southwestern United States are under Red Flag Warnings, including States such as New Mexico seeing major wildfires such as the Cooks Peak Fire (55,931 acres) and the Hermits Peak Fire (65,824 acres). Acreage totals are acreage burned from Inciweb at the time I am posting this article. Anyway, it seemed only appropriate to write about today's Red Flag Warnings across the United States. Each NWS Weather Forecast Office (WFO) develops their own Red Flag Warning criteria in collaboration with their partners (including but not limited to State fire fighting agencies); this criteria will vary across WFOs.

screen shot obtained on April 29, 2022 from https://www.weather.gov/fire/

I want to thank all wildland firefighters who are out there today fighting wildfires so that we may be as safe as possible. especially those in areas seeing Red Flag Conditions. Stay safe out there.

No comments: