Several northeastern states are now under a red flag fire warning after a bout of unseasonably warm weather combined with dry and windy conditions.
According to the Daily Mail, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a wildfire watch early Wednesday for Connecticut, Massachusetts, and northern Rhode Island.
According to the NWS, these warnings mean “critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly, and any fires that start may spread rapidly and become difficult to extinguish.”
Connecticut battles raging fires with tragic consequences
Connecticut is currently fighting two wildfires, which have already led to the tragic death of one firefighter and left two others injured.
This red flag warning is the first to be declared in New England since May 2023 and is expected to last for two weeks, concluding on November 7.
New Jersey imposes restrictions as conditions worsen
In addition, New Jersey has been placed under stage three fire restrictions, effectively banning campfires, picnic barbecues, and charcoal fires in parks until further notice.
Weather service EWeather stated on X, “The fire weather concerns we are experiencing now may be with us another couple of weeks.”
Windy conditions heighten fire risks
“Add in some wind like we’ll have today, and we get a red flag warning highlighting the dangerous conditions, which can cause fires to rapidly spread,” they added, citing the danger posed by fallen leaves combined with gusts of wind reaching 20 to 30 miles per hour.
Ongoing firefighting efforts across affected areas
Officials have reported two wildfires spreading across the region, with one covering nine acres in Vernon, Connecticut, and another extending over 80 to 90 acres on Lamentation Mountain in Berlin.
To battle these fires, the Connecticut National Guard and Maine Forestry Division have deployed Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters for water drops.
Unseasonable dryness drives New England toward one of the worst fire seasons
This year is “shaping up to be one of the worst fall brush fire seasons we’ve seen in a long time,” EWeather warned.
Isolated showers are expected Thursday and Saturday morning, though the NWS reported they won’t significantly improve the dry conditions.
Uncommon warning issued in fall, usually seen in spring
Red flag fire warnings during the fall are rare for New England, as these alerts are more common in the spring when the combination of rising temperatures, gusty winds, dry grass, and outdoor activities increases fire risks.
The current conditions are the result of a jet stream stuck over the region since early September, creating high pressure, which has reduced cloud cover and caused a significant lack of rainfall.
Record-setting dryness hits Boston, New Jersey declares drought watch
Boston is currently experiencing its seventh-driest fall since records began in 1872. If no rain arrives by Halloween, this will mark the second-driest September and October on record.
Similarly, northern New Jersey faces drier than normal conditions and is under fire watch after a wildfire burned nearly 80 acres of land in Morris County over the weekend.
The state has issued a drought watch for all 21 counties after three months of below-average rainfall, with little chance of relief on the horizon.
Expect warmer and drier conditions across New England through the end of the month and into early November.
