The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning from 10am-8pm Wednesday in Connecticut. The combination of gusty winds and very dry weather will lead to critical fire conditions. The rest of Southeastern New England has elevated fire weather potential, but not quite to the level of the Red Flag Warning in Connecticut. See below from the National Weather Service.
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 356 AM EDT WED APR 3 2013 ...DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TODAY... CTZ002>004-031600- /O.UPG.KBOX.FW.A.0001.130403T1200Z-130404T0000Z/ /O.NEW.KBOX.FW.W.0001.130403T1400Z-130404T0000Z/ HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT- 356 AM EDT WED APR 3 2013 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. * AFFECTED AREA...HARTFORD...TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES IN CONNECTICUT. * WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH. * TIMING...THE GREATEST POTENTIAL IS IN THE LATE MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 21 PERCENT. * IMPACTS...DRY WEATHER AND GUSTY WINDS WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. ANY FIRES THAT START MAY SPREAD RAPIDLY AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO EXTINGUISH. && $$
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 405 AM EDT WED APR 3 2013 MAZ002>023-026-RIZ001>007-031600- WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA- CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA- WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA- SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA- NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA- SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA- NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI- SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI- BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CHARLEMONT...GREENFIELD...ORANGE... BARRE...FITCHBURG...FRAMINGHAM...LOWELL...LAWRENCE...GLOUCESTER... CHESTERFIELD...BLANDFORD...AMHERST...NORTHAMPTON...SPRINGFIELD... MILFORD...WORCESTER...FOXBORO...NORWOOD...CAMBRIDGE...BOSTON... QUINCY...TAUNTON...BROCKTON...PLYMOUTH...FALL RIVER... NEW BEDFORD...MATTAPOISETT...CHATHAM...FALMOUTH...PROVINCETOWN... VINEYARD HAVEN...AYER...FOSTER...SMITHFIELD...PROVIDENCE... WEST GREENWICH...WARWICK...BRISTOL...NARRAGANSETT...WESTERLY... NEWPORT 405 AM EDT WED APR 3 2013 ...DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER POTENTIAL TODAY ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND... WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL GUST TO 30 TO 35 MPH TODAY AND MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL DROP TO 20 TO 30 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON. LOCAL FIRE WEATHER OFFICIALS HAVE ADVISED THAT FINE FUELS...GRASSES AND LEAF LITTER...WILL BE VERY RECEPTIVE FOR IGNITION. IN FACT ANY FIRE ACROSS UNSHADED FINE FUELS CAN RAPIDLY SPREAD IN THESE GUSTY CONDITIONS.
