Hot, Dry, Windy: Red Flag Warning In The Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Temperatures are above normal, but there's one thing that is seasonal around here, and it's the reason the National Weather Service has issued hazardous outlooks for Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster, Westchester and neighboring counties until 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Wildfires.

West winds are 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, the humidity is as low as 19 percent, and it hasn't rained in more than a week. If a fire starts, it will spread rapidly, the NWS said. The extended period of dry conditions will continue through the week, and warnings could be posted again.

Brush burning is banned in New York between March 16 and May 14 for exactly this reason.

In Westchester County, brush fires have occurred in the last few days in Saxon Woods Park in the Scarsdale/White Plains area and in Cortlandt, Greenburgh, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mount Pleasant, New Rochelle, North Castle, North Salem, Ossining and Pelham Manor.

SEE: Weekend Wildfire In Putnam Prompts Reminder From NY Officials

Think it's warm now? Temperatures will climb high above normal in the next few days, reaching into the upper 80s.

"After a nice early spring weekend ... we are now running full speed ahead into mid spring, and even early summer by the end of the week," Bill Potter of Hudson Valley Weather said on Facebook. "This surge of heat is a taste of summer, because our average highs in mid July are in the mid 80s!"

"The warmer-than-normal air will help encourage more flowers and trees to bud across much of the northern tier," said Courtney Travis, AccuWeather senior meteorologist. "Over the next week, more of the Plains, Midwest and Northeast will experience that blooming, which will unleash a torrent of pollen and worsen allergies for millions. The source of the pollen will first come from trees, with mold, grass and ragweed to follow over the coming months."

Plus, we have to give you the 6-day forecast to show a chance of precipitation. Based on Rockland County:

• Tuesday - Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. West winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph this afternoon.
• Tonight - Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. West winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
• Wednesday - Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
• Wednesday Night - Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
• Thursday - Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. West winds around 10 mph.
• Thursday Night - Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s.
• Friday - Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s.
• Friday Night - Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
• Saturday - Partly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s.
• Saturday Night - Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.
• Sunday - Mostly cloudy in the morning, then partly sunny with a chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
• Sunday Night - Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Lows around 50.