Dangerous fire conditions possible Saturday as drought, winds elevate risk - NBC 15
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More: https://mynbc15.com/news/local/wind-low-humidity-drought-conditions-prompt-al-forestry-to-issue-alert
Dangerous fire conditions are expected across parts of south Alabama and the central Gulf Coast on Saturday as dry air, gusty winds and ongoing drought conditions combine to increase wildfire risk.
The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for portions of southeast Mississippi, southwest and south-central Alabama, and the western Florida Panhandle from late morning through early evening Saturday. The alert comes as relative humidity is expected to drop as low as 20%, with northeast winds of 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 30 mph.
Forecasters warn that any fires that develop could spread rapidly under these conditions.
The elevated threat follows a recent alert from the Alabama Forestry Commission, which cited a combination of wind, low humidity and ongoing drought in urging residents to avoid outdoor burning. Fire officials say dry vegetation and a lack of rainfall have created an environment where even small sparks can quickly grow out of control.
Recent data shows drought conditions remain widespread across Alabama, with a significant portion of the state experiencing moderate to severe dryness.
Officials are urging residents to take precautions, including clearing dry debris around homes, avoiding parking vehicles on dry grass and keeping emergency supplies ready. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged until conditions improve.
The fire weather threat is expected to peak Saturday afternoon and evening before conditions gradually improve.
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State forester Andy Reier doesn't have to look further than his feet to find signs that the Gulf Coast is way overdue for some rain.
A random piece of pine straw, something that you usually can tie in a knot, just snaps in his fingers.
"That just shows how little moisture is in this pine straw and how combustible it is," he says. "We're seeing a lot of our pine fuels, pine straw, small twigs, that sort of thing, super dry. And then more seriously we're seeing our thousand-hour fuels, our bigger fuels, like large trees that are down. They're dry and they're combusting and they're lighting on fire and they're staying on fire throughout the night with the low recoveries we're seeing."
Andy says it's so dry, both Mobile and Baldwin Counties are in moderate drought... if not severe drought.
It's a condition vividly put on display Tuesday when a brush fire in Gulf Shores triggered evacuations and the closing of Highway 59.
"You know, knowing that fuel type down there we've been down there a few times before in the terrain being wet, marsh area, not a lot of equipment access," says the forester. "So, we knew pretty well when we got the call what we were getting into."
A lack of moisture is not the only ingredient for a possible wildfire.
Right now, there's also the wind.
"Right, and it just spreads and it's a lot harder to put these fires out right now," says Andy. "They're moving a lot faster and they get out of control a lot faster."
Starting Friday morning, the Alabama Forestry Commission is restricting the issuance of outside burning permits to burn managers only.
And even that comes to a halt Saturday now that a Fire Alert has been issued.
At Meaher State Park on the water's edge of Mobile Bay, a worker says they're rethinking a planned bonfire for Friday night.
Visitors to the park can still use those outside grills, because a total burn ban has not been put in place.
But Andy says use with care.
Because that wind whipping off the bay could suddenly turn an ember into a traveling torch.
"We're just asking that they use utmost caution if they decide to do that "
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More: https://mynbc15.com/news/local/wind-low-humidity-drought-conditions-prompt-al-forestry-to-issue-alert
Dangerous fire conditions are expected across parts of south Alabama and the central Gulf Coast on Saturday as dry air, gusty winds and ongoing drought conditions combine to increase wildfire risk.
The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for portions of southeast Mississippi, southwest and south-central Alabama, and the western Florida Panhandle from late morning through early evening Saturday. The alert comes as relative humidity is expected to drop as low as 20%, with northeast winds of 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 30 mph.
Forecasters warn that any fires that develop could spread rapidly under these conditions.
The elevated threat follows a recent alert from the Alabama Forestry Commission, which cited a combination of wind, low humidity and ongoing drought in urging residents to avoid outdoor burning. Fire officials say dry vegetation and a lack of rainfall have created an environment where even small sparks can quickly grow out of control.
Recent data shows drought conditions remain widespread across Alabama, with a significant portion of the state experiencing moderate to severe dryness.
Officials are urging residents to take precautions, including clearing dry debris around homes, avoiding parking vehicles on dry grass and keeping emergency supplies ready. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged until conditions improve.
The fire weather threat is expected to peak Saturday afternoon and evening before conditions gradually improve.
-
State forester Andy Reier doesn't have to look further than his feet to find signs that the Gulf Coast is way overdue for some rain.
A random piece of pine straw, something that you usually can tie in a knot, just snaps in his fingers.
"That just shows how little moisture is in this pine straw and how combustible it is," he says. "We're seeing a lot of our pine fuels, pine straw, small twigs, that sort of thing, super dry. And then more seriously we're seeing our thousand-hour fuels, our bigger fuels, like large trees that are down. They're dry and they're combusting and they're lighting on fire and they're staying on fire throughout the night with the low recoveries we're seeing."
Andy says it's so dry, both Mobile and Baldwin Counties are in moderate drought... if not severe drought.
It's a condition vividly put on display Tuesday when a brush fire in Gulf Shores triggered evacuations and the closing of Highway 59.
"You know, knowing that fuel type down there we've been down there a few times before in the terrain being wet, marsh area, not a lot of equipment access," says the forester. "So, we knew pretty well when we got the call what we were getting into."
A lack of moisture is not the only ingredient for a possible wildfire.
Right now, there's also the wind.
"Right, and it just spreads and it's a lot harder to put these fires out right now," says Andy. "They're moving a lot faster and they get out of control a lot faster."
Starting Friday morning, the Alabama Forestry Commission is restricting the issuance of outside burning permits to burn managers only.
And even that comes to a halt Saturday now that a Fire Alert has been issued.
At Meaher State Park on the water's edge of Mobile Bay, a worker says they're rethinking a planned bonfire for Friday night.
Visitors to the park can still use those outside grills, because a total burn ban has not been put in place.
But Andy says use with care.
Because that wind whipping off the bay could suddenly turn an ember into a traveling torch.
"We're just asking that they use utmost caution if they decide to do that "
Follow us:
on BlueSky: https://mynbc15.bsky.social
on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mynbc15
on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mynbc15/
on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@mynbc15/
on X: https://www.twitter.com/mynbc15
#localnews #nbc15 #channel15 #mobilenews
Palavra-chave: meteorologia em beira
