POTTSTOWN PA – “An increased risk for fire spread” on Saturday (Nov. 16), due to very low relative humidity and marginal winds, prompted a “red flag warning” Friday (Nov. 15) at 5:03 p.m. for the Pottstown area and beyond.
The notice from the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly NJ said it expected “critical fire weather conditions” for Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Red flag warnings reportedly are similar to severe weather alerts. They are intended to warn fire managers on federal lands of conditions “that may lead to especially dangerous wildfire growth.”
Friday’s warning applied to all of Montgomery, Berks, and Chester counties and beyond. It also applied specifically to the boroughs of Pottstown, Reading, Collegeville, Norristown, Honey Brook, West Chester, and Kennett Square, as well as more than 30 others in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The service says the remainder of Friday also faced “an increased risk for fire spread.” Minimum relative humidity values were expected to be between 20 and 30 percent Friday afternoon. Wind gusts were forecast at around 15 to 20 miles per hour (mph).
Outdoor Burning Strongly Discouraged
P
Saturday’s weather calls for northwest winds from 15 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph. High temperatures of 59 degrees are anticipated. Relative humidity could drop to “as low as 27 percent,” the weather service explains. “Any fire that develops,” it adds, “will catch and spread quickly.”
“Any fires that ignite … could quickly become difficult to control,” weather service representatives wrote.
“Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged,” the weather service notes, although it acknowledges “burn restrictions and burn bans are in effect for some areas.” The service reminds area residents to “properly extinguish or dispose of any potential ignition sources, including smoking materials such as cigarette butts.”
Illustration by the Doodler Collective on Unsplash+, used by Travels With The Post under license
Winter-Ready PECO Says It Invested in Utility Upgrades