The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for NYC, effective today from 10am to 7pm. For those of you who got the alert and didn’t know what it meant, we’re going to break it down for you.
According to the National Weather Service, a red flag warning is issued when weather conditions indicate “imminent danger of severe fire weather with a relatively high probability of occurrence.” Prior to being issued, the warning may follow an initial Fire Weather Watch. Red Flag Warnings are primarily issued during the fall and spring season.
Today, gusts of wind are reaching up to 25 mph, creating an increased risk of fire danger when combined with warm temperatures and low humidities.
Additional areas affected by this mornings warning include: Northern Fairfield, Northern New Haven, Northern Middlesex, Norther New London, Southern Fairfield, Southern New Haven, Southern Middlesex, Southern New London, and Lower Hudson Valley.
Fire danger ratings vary by color, beginning at green (the lowest) and red (the most extreme). You can learn more about fire dangers at the Department of Environmental Conservation’s website.
As you can see from the fire danger map below, NYC is in the yellow zone (high) with a red flag warning.
The Department of Environmental Conservation defines yellow as “All fine dead fuels ignite readily and fires start easily from most causes. Unattended brush and campfires are likely to escape. Fires spread rapidly and short-distance spotting is common. High-intensity burning may develop on slopes or in concentrations of fine fuels. Fires may become serious and their control difficult unless they are attacked successfully while small.”
Similar weather conditions from today are expected to follow through into Wednesday, however the warning has not been extended past this evening.