Fire Weather Continues in the East

Red Flag Warnings are issued by the National Weather Service when there is a high risk of wildfires due to weather conditions. Flames jump the roadway in Suffolk County, N.Y., as a roaring brush fire threatens homes and commercial buildings on Long Island, Monday, April 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Robert Garofalo)

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

Apr 10, 2012; 9:17 AM ET

The risk of wildfires and rapidly spreading urban fires will continue in the East until drenching rain arrives and winds subside.
The combination of dry brush, low humidity, warm sunshine and wind will continue to drive the threat of wildfires skyward over much of the Atlantic Seaboard and the Appalachians this week.
Rainfall has only been between 20 and 50 percent of normal since Feb. 1, 2012, along much of the I-95 corridor.
The strong circulation around a storm at most levels of the atmosphere centered over the St. Lawrence Valley was kicking up winds and dragging down dry air from Canada during the Easter Weekend.
The low humidity makes fuel, such as wood, leaves, etc., more combustible, while the wind can rapidly fan the flames and carry burning embers to distant locations.
While chilly air and spotty showers will invade the Northeast the next couple of days, lowering the threat slightly, it will not be enough to alleviate the fire danger everywhere completely.

Stiff winds from the west and northwest will continue to be a problem for firefighters through Wednesday and Thursday.
There is a chance of showers (and thunderstorms) this weekend, but it does not appear to be the type of rainfall that would end the threat of wildfires.
Episodes of strong winds will continue to be a problem in the I-95 corridor through nearly the end of the week.
As a ridge of high pressure slides eastward, a period of calm conditions should progress eastward Friday. However, with the approach of a front, winds may kick up rather forcefully from the Southwest over the weekend. As temperatures creep up over the weekend, relative humidity levels will drop.
In some instances, fires in recent days may have been sparked from downed power lines, knocked loose by the gusty winds.
In many cases, however, fires were likely sparked by human activity. There have been no thunderstorms in the vicinity over the past several days, except for in portions of western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and eastern Ohio.

This map shows detected lightning strikes (green dots) during the 72-hour period ending at 11:00 a.m. EDT April 10, 2012.
In Pennsylvania alone, there were over two dozen wildfires in state parks and game lands in recent days.
Two hikers had to be assisted by park rangers in the French Creek State Park fire on Monday. While the blaze was under control Tuesday, it continued to burn through the midday hours.
RELATED:
Florida Drought Fuels Wildfires
A brush fire on Staten Island stalled travel on the West Shore Expressway Monday. Similarly, a brush fire caused train delays in Connecticut on Monday.
On Long Island, N.Y., buildings were damaged and homes were evacuated in Riverhead, due to brush fires.
The strong winds and dry air have also caused problems for firefighters battling blazes in urban areas. The winds were pushing fires from structure to structure before being extinguished.
At least two such fires occurred recently in Scranton and Philadelphia, Pa.
According to the Associated Press, two firefighters were killed in the Philadelphia factory fire.
The Philadelphia fire spread to several nearby homes and dozens of people were evacuated due to the risk of airborne burning embers starting new fires.
Fortunately, no one was killed in the Scranton blaze. However, according to WNEP-TV, seven people were forced from their homes and one pet died.
People are urged to be very careful with outdoor power equipment and avoid outdoor burning and campfires in the dry, windy weather. Don't toss burning cigarette butts out your car window.
Hot exhaust systems from vehicles and power equipment that have been running can ignite the dry brush beneath them.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Drought Monitor, there is a growing area of abnormally dry (yellow) conditions in the East, northern Plains and West this week. (Orange and red areas indicated progressively more intense regions of drought).

Fire Weather Continues in the East