I-95 corridor faces high fire risk amid dry stretch as Connecticut declares state of emergency

NEW YORK – A cold front pushing in from the NORTH EAST The coast is expected to leave dry and windy conditions in its wake, plunging the region into another period of heightened fire risks over the weekend and prompting one state to declare a state of emergency.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center highlighted much of the I-95 corridor from Washington, DC TO Boston with an increased fire risk through at least the beginning of the weekend. Additionally, fire weather warnings now cover all of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island through Saturday evening.

In many communities, wind gusts are expected to reach 25-35 mph, and with the combination of dry vegetation, fires could quickly grow out of control.

Large areas of the Northeast have not seen significant rain in about a month, making October one of the driest on record.

According to the latest US Drought Monitor, 64% of the region is experiencing unusually dry conditions, and 30% have officially seen drought conditions.

Fire danger remains in the Northeast as work continues to extinguish a deadly wildfire in Connecticut

More than a dozen fires broke out during the work week of Connecticutforcing the state governor to declare a state of emergency.

“Due to the critical fire weather conditions that Connecticut continues to experience, I am declaring a state of emergency,” Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said. “This will help provide state and local emergency management officials with the tools they need to monitor and limit the threat of wildfires statewide.”

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said the combination of dry conditions and fallen leaves created a unique fire situation.

The wildfire burning near Berlin, Connecticut claimed his life when a firefighter retired from Hartford was killed when his utility vehicle overturned on steep, rocky terrain. Three other firefighters were injured.

A saving grace for fires could be relative humidity valueswhich is expected to remain generally above 30% over the weekend.

Moisture in the air can make fuels less combustible and fires less intense.

In the western US, relative humidity values ​​during large fire events are typically significantly below 20%, causing erratic fire activity.

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Another round of active fire weather is expected next week as temperatures reach the 70s and 80s in the days and hours ahead. Halloween.

On Thursday, cities such as Boston and new york expect daytime highs around 75 degrees, with temperatures dropping to near 70 degrees after sunset, providing a stark contrast to the typically chilly evenings.

A cold front is expected to move through the region at the end of the work week, bringing the best chance of precipitation in several weeks, but precipitation amounts are expected to remain light.

Significant relief from the drought is not in the offing until early next month, meaning threats of fire activity are likely to continue throughout the extended forecast period.

Source of the original article: I-95 corridor faces high fire risk amid dry stretch as Connecticut declares state of emergency