Fire danger alert in eastern Pa. through Thursday morning
National Weather Service warns of elevated fire spread risk Thursday afternoon due to low humidity and gusty southerly winds; outdoor burning strongly discouraged.
The National Weather Service issued a report at 3:46 p.m. on Wednesday for fire danger until Thursday at 6 a.m. for Carbon, Monroe, Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties.
"There is an elevated risk for fire spread Thursday for portions of eastern Pennsylvania. Minimum relative humidity values will drop to around 25% Thursday afternoon. This will be accompanied by southerly winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts 20 to 25 mph. These conditions, along with the continued drying of fine fuels, could support the rapid spread of any fires that ignite, which could quickly become difficult to control. Conditions improve during the evening as the wind diminishes and the relative humidity increases. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. Be sure to properly extinguish or dispose of any potential ignition sources, including smoking materials such as cigarette butts. This forecast considers meteorological, fuel, and land conditions and has been developed in coordination with state fire officials," states the weather service.