Maps show drought and fire conditions in Northeast states
CBSN
The Northeastern U.S. is experiencing ongoing drought conditions, which is helping to fuel an uptick in fire danger. For Friday, an elevated fire weather outlook was issued by the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center for the area stretching from Massachusetts to the northern edge of Virginia and West Virginia.
The threat with this elevated fire risk is due to winds picking up to 10-15 mph, with wind gusts upwards of 25-35 mph. Relative humidity levels are as low as 20% in some spots, as well. Red flag warnings have been issued into the evening hours of Friday across parts of the Northeast and New England.
The weekly drought monitor came in on Thursday, and 57% of the Tri-State area of metro New York, New Jersey and Connecticut is under a moderate drought. Brushfires flared up along the New Jersey Palisades overnight while firefighters fought other blazes in southern New Jersey, and multiple wildfires have been burning in Massachusetts, where drought conditions range from moderate to severe.
