The region has been grappling with a series of wildfires this past week, marked by a troubling combination of dried brush, dropping humidity, and gusty winds. This dangerous mix has created a particularly hazardous environment for wildfires.
Tragically, earlier this week, a firefighter lost their life battling a significant blaze on Lamentation Mountain in Connecticut. Additionally, the last 24 hours have seen smaller brush fires igniting in local communities.
The National Weather Service NWS in Boston/Norton has issued its first areawide red flag warning of the year, affecting all of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Following this, the NWS New York office has also extended a red flag warning to Connecticut, which was alerted earlier this week.
Since 2006, the NWS Boston has issued only three other red flag warnings in the fall, with the most recent in 2020. Notably, the NWS New York has not issued a fall red flag warning in over 20 years. Typically, these warnings are more common in Southern New England during the spring, as shown in the frequency charts below.
Currently, T.F. Green has recorded nearly one inch of rainfall in October, following a dry end to September. As leaves fall and vegetation dies off in preparation for the cold season, the dry ground conditions have become increasingly favorable for wildfire ignition and spread.
High winds can exacerbate wildfire risks by spreading flames quickly, similar to how fanning a campfire increases its size. Today, we are experiencing elevated winds, with gusts reaching 20-35 MPH, coupled with low humidity levels.
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