BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Critical fire weather conditions are expected in the Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, a day after brush fires burned in two counties and closed Route 33 in Wind Gap.
Low fuel moistures, low daytime relative humidity values and breezy conditions are expected through the afternoon and evening across the region.
Any fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain, the National Weather Service said in a red flag warning in effect for the area until 8 p.m.
- The Lehigh Valley is under a red flag warning for critical fire weather conditions Tuesday
- The warning comes a day after brush fires erupted in two counties, closing Route 33 in Wind Gap
- A code orange air quality alert is also in effect due to smoke from Canadian wildfires drifting through the region
The warning covers the Lehigh Valley, Pocono Plateau, Southern and Central New Jersey and portions of Northern New Jersey.
According to the weather service, there also is a slight chance of isolated dry thunderstorms, which could serve as an ignition source for fires.
Dry thunderstorms are thunderstorms that produce thunder and lightning, but where most of the precipitation evaporates before reaching the ground.
The warnings come after firefighters battled brush fires around Route 33 in Monroe and Northampton counties on Monday, prompting the closure of southbound Route 33 in Wind Gap.
"We had numerous fires along [Route] 33 expanding miles of territory, and dozens of fire companies to assist in extinguishing the fires along with DCNR, the parks service, and fish and wildlife," said Leon Clapper, fire chief of Blue Ridge Hook and Ladder Company in Hamilton Township, Monroe County.
Beyond Tuesday, brush fires will continue to be a concern because of an extended stretch of dry weather that has led to drought conditions across the region.
The Lehigh Valley has no burn bans in place. As of Tuesday morning, only York County had a burn ban in effect.
County burn bans can be put in place at the request of a district fire warden, after at least 10 fire chiefs or 50% of fire chiefs in the county, whichever is less, recommend and request the imposition of a temporary countywide burn ban on open fires.
State bans must be implemented by the governor.
Smoke already in the area
Smoke and haze from wildfires in Canada will continue to spread across the skies today, leading to a code orange air quality alert.
The alert means that air pollution concentrations may become unhealthy for sensitive groups, including people with asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases.
A cold front passage is only expected to make the hazy conditions worse, the weather service said in its morning forecast discussion, since the air mass is moving from the region where the Canadian wildfires are still burning.
In addition to the hazy skies and filtered sunshine, mostly cloudy conditions are expected as the front passes in the afternoon and early evening.
The afternoon is expected to be particularly breezy, with northwest winds around 10 to 15 mph and wind gusts up to 25 mph.
Forecasters say winds should remain elevated around 5 to 10 mph through the evening.
