Crime & Safety

Red Flag Warning: Powerful Winds and Dry Conditions Will Cause Significant Danger of a Wildfire on Saturday

Wind gusts expected to be as high as 60 mph, low humidity levels and dry fuels will make it possible for 'explosive fire growth' on Saturday through Central and Southern New Jersey.

It may be hard to believe with snow still on the ground in many places, but there is an significant risk of a wildfire for much of Central and Southern New Jersey tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 19.

The combination of wind gusts expected to be as high as 60 mph, low humidity and dry fuels – leaves, grass, fallen branches, etc. – have prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag Warning for 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday for the state’s nine southern-most counties, including  Burlington and Monmouth.

“A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and recent dry weather will create explosive fire growth potential,” the National Weather Service said.

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While Mercer County is not one of the counties under the Red Flag Warning, there will still be an elevated danger of brush fires in Lawrence Township and surrounding towns due to the strong winds that are forecast for Saturday – sustained Northwest winds between 20 to 35 mps, with gusts between 50 and 60 mph.

As such, the National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Watch for the entire state of New Jersey from tonight through Saturday evening, warning that “numerous tree limbs will be knocked down along with weaker trees and power lines.”

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The highest winds are expected to occur between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday.

“Expect power outages. Downed trees and tree limbs could damage vehicles parked under them. Winds will make it difficult to drive high profile vehicles, especially on bridges and overpasses,” the weather service advised.

In the counties covered by the Red Flag Warning, relative humidity values are expected to drop as low as 25 percent. “Because of meteorological conditions, the potential exists for rapid spread if uncontrolled fires develop,” the weather service cautioned.

For more information on wildfire precautions, visit the website of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

Section B-10 of the Forest Fire Service, which covers parts of Mercer County, has many valuable resources on its website.

For updated information on fire conditions, such as relative humidity, wind speed, and fuel moisture levels, click here.


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