fire – Weather 360

Weather 360 special update & more!

April 18, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged fire, high temperatures, New York City Metro AreaLeave a comment

In order to create much more accurate and detailed forecasts, Weather 360’s coverage area is downsizing to an area where most of those who use our website are, it is also the most populated metropolitan area in the Northeast United States and one of the largest in the country. The area we will be downsizing to is the New York City Metro Area. Weather 360 considers all areas that fall within the labeled map to be in the New York City Metro Area:

The NYC Metro Area, this map is from an assessment done by Columbia University recently. The area consists of 31 counties and more than 20 million people.

These changes will be going into effect immediately, but still, for anyone in areas across the Northeast with Red Flag Warnings, stay safe.

Although Weather 360 will now only cover weather for the NYC Metro Area, we still will be covering all the tropical disturbances every Hurricane Season for the Tropical Atlantic Basin.

Warm temperatures and red flag warnings

April 18, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged current weather conditions, fire, forecasts, high temperatures, Mid Atlantic, New England, New York City Metro Area, NortheastLeave a comment

Across the Northeast, the National Weather Service (NWS) has had to issue red flag warnings and hazardous weather outlooks due to the very dry (and warmer than average) conditions later on today creating the conditions that spread wild and brush fires due to any type of ignition. So, although today will be a very warm day, the NWS does not recommend anyone in the areas with red flag warnings or any type of advisory or alert to use matches or any type of ignition source outdoors due to risk of fire spread. So please refer to weather.gov to see if your area is at risk today.

So, enjoy the above average temperatures today, but be aware that there is an elevated risk for the spread of fire today.

Elevated fire risk alerts today? Here’s why

April 15, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged current weather conditions, fire, forecastsLeave a comment

Image provided by the NOAA (Fire Weather Outlook for the next day)

Over the course of the last several hours, special weather statements (regarding fire danger) and red flag warnings have been being issued across the Northeast. But first of all, what does this mean?

Red flag warnings and special weather statements (regarding fire) normally mean that there is an elevated risk for wild or brush fire spread.

Okay, now that we know what that means, why is there a danger in the Northeast, who’s ever heard of a wildfire in the Northeast?

Well, due to low humidity and windy conditions, dry plants that may catch fire from a loose fire source (such as a match) will easily catch fire and quickly spread. This makes even small, more easy to extinguish brush fires turn into larger, more violent fires fast.

So, please, even if you are not necessarily in one of the elevated risk areas shown above, exercise extra caution while dealing with a source of fire.