'Red Flag Alert,' High Ozone Levels On Tap For Ocean County Today

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ - The state Department of Environmental Protection has issued a "code orange" air quality alert for Ocean County towns today, while the wildfire risk still remains high.

The air quality alert means that air pollution and high ozone concentrations could be a problem for children, people with asthma, heart disease and other lung diseases and the elderly, according to the National Weather Service.

The dangers of poor air quality can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercising indoors.

And the NWS is continuing the "Red Flag Alert" for the increased risk of wildfires due to low humidity levels and rising temperatures.

It's the fourth day in a row that conditions are ripe for wildfires. The Red Flag Alert, which affects southern and central New Jersey, will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. tonight.

Although the relative humidity has risen to around 30 percent, it's still very low. The strongest winds and lowest humidity values will occur from 3 p.m. to 6 pm.

"A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now....or will shortly due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels. Any fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain," the NWS says.

Temperatures today will be in the upper 70s to low 80s near the coast and in the upper 80s to lower 90s inland. Winds will be west to southwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour, with gusts to 25 miles per hour.

"The combination of low fuel moisture, low relative humidity and gusty winds will contribute to the enhanced spread of fires," the NWS says.

For more information about wildfire danger, burn restriction, and
wildfire prevention and education, please click here.

Map: Courtesy of New Jersey Forest Fire Service