AccuWeather meteorologists are warning of a growing wildfire threat across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic as record dry conditions combine with unusually warm weather.
“It has been bone-dry across much of the country for the past 30 days,” said AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno. “We saw excessive rainfall in parts of the Southeast, Florida and the Carolinas from hurricanes Helene and Milton. There was also plenty of rain in parts of New Mexico and Colorado from an upper low. That’s been it. The rest of the country has been very dry. We are seeing fronts moving across the country from west to east, but they’re moisture starved.”
This dry spell has led to an elevated risk of wildfires across 46 states, with only Arizona and Maine escaping the heightened threat.
READ: Hurricane Kristy Rapidly Intensifies In The Pacific
Record-Breaking Temperatures Exacerbate Dryness
Adding to the concern, the Northeast has seen over two dozen daily record-high temperatures broken this week. The I-95 corridor, including major cities like New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., has been particularly dry.
“The first three weeks of October have been among the driest on record for the highly populated New York to Philadelphia area. We are concerned about the wildfire danger in this area this fall,” said AccuWeather On-Air Broadcaster Geoff Cornish, who also serves as a volunteer firefighter. “It is becoming increasingly likely that some locations in this area may go through their first-ever October without any measurable rain.”
Drought Expands Across Multiple States
The prolonged dry spell has led to a rapidly expanding drought across the mid-Atlantic, with over a dozen states experiencing some level of drought conditions. The most severe drought is concentrated in parts of West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, where some states have declared emergencies.
READ: Hurricane Milton Insured Losses Approach $2.75 Billion In Florida, Over 230K Claims Filed
Impact on Fall Foliage and Tourism
The dry conditions are also impacting fall foliage, causing leaves to fall earlier than usual in some areas. This could potentially affect fall tourism, which relies heavily on vibrant autumn colors.
Safety Precautions Urged
With the increased fire risk, residents are urged to exercise extreme caution with potential fire sources like lawn equipment, power tools, cigarettes, and grills. AccuWeather experts recommend following safety measures similar to those in high-risk wildfire zones in the western U.S., including:
- Avoid open burning: Check local regulations and consider alternatives like composting or mulching leaves.
- Create defensible space: Clear leaves and debris from around homes to reduce fire risk.
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