Wildfire Danger Increases In Ocean County As Temps Rise Today

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ - The National Weather Service has issued a "Red Flag Warning" as the risk of wildfires rises with warmer temperatures and low humidity.

The warning will be in effect from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and may continue into later this week.

"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," the NWS says. "Any fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain."

Winds today will be from the southwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour, with gusts up to 25 miles per hour. The relative humidity will be as low as 20 to 25 percent.

Temperatures will be in the lower to mid 80s inland, with lower temperatures in the mid to upper 70s along the Jersey coast.

The conditions are expected to continue through Thursday and Friday afternoons, the NWS says.

This is the third day this week the weather service has warned of increased wildfire danger, but the first day the NWS has issued a red flag warning.

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

Photo: Courtesy of New Jersey Forest Fire Service