NWS Indicates Possible Fire Threat

After yesterday’s very brief bout with rain, temperatures are more seasonable around  the Garden State on this Thursday afternoon.  As of my latest check with the Weather Channel, temperatures around New Jersey are in the low to mid 50s.  Here are the GWC weather station in South Plainfield, the mercury is standing at 56 degrees.

The wind is the big story this early Thursday afternoon.  At Somerville Airport, winds were sustained at 21 miles per hour with gusts in upwards of 27 miles per hour.  The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly is still calling for winds to be between 20 and 30 miles per hour during the day.  Humidity levels also are expected to be low again in some areas.  

The NWS issued a special weather statement regarding the possible Fire Danger.  With humidity levels at 30 percent or lower along with wind speeds in the 20 to 30 mile per hour range in some parts of the area, the ingredients are there for a fire to quickly spread if started.  Here in Northwestern Middlesex County, the humidity was at 50 percent while winds have been sustained at 5 miles per hour with gusts up to 11 miles per hour.

The high temperature occurred earlier today as it reached 61 degrees.  There was only 0.03 inches of rain that fell on Wednesday.  So, the rainfall total for the month of March to date is only 0.48 inches.  In addition to being one of the driest months on record, we could be looking at a warmer than normal March as well.