Wildfire Threat Amplified in the Northeast and Beyond Thanks to No Rain

It has been well documented over the last few weeks how dry it has been for the bulk of the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic. This dryness is pairing with the unseasonably warm temperatures as of late to raise the risk of wildfires across the region. How dry has it been and what are local officials warning residents about the wildfire dangers? Read on for all of the details.

Unseasonable Warmth Still in the Picture for the Northeast

An extended period of dry weather is joining forces with temperatures that still feel like the summer despite the calendar reading October. How warm has it been lately? The mercury has hit the 80s across a large portion of the Interstate 95 corridor and into the Appalachians this week. Over two dozen new record highs were set across portions of the Midwest and Northeast already this week.

The temperatures are forecast to cool down from west to east on Wednesday as a cold front pushes into the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast. However, the cooldown will be brief with another warming trend on tap by the weekend and into next week. As has been the trend lately, the weekend is setting up to be a good time to head outside for fall activities.

Lack of Warmth Exacerbating Dry Conditions

The warmth is being amplified by the lack of moisture. According to the most recent report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, abnormally dry to drought conditions are expanding. The first three weeks of October are now distinguished as one of the driest periods on record for a number of major metropolitan areas in the region. This includes New York City and Philadelphia.

New Jersey has also been exceptionally dry. For instance, it has been weeks since cities such as Trenton and Atlantic City have seen measurable rainfall.

The dry conditions go back to the middle of August for some communities. The town of Islip on Long Island in New York has only recorded 0.40 of an inch of rain dating back to August 20. This compares to the historical norm of about 7 inches during this same time period. As the days on the calendar continue to flip with no major storm systems on the horizon, it is looking more and more likely that some areas may not record any rain at all during the month of October.