Portions of the Hudson Valley were recently placed under a Fire Weather Warning for Tuesday.
You may see alerts/wording from the National Weather Service for a Red Flag Warning for the same areas. We changed what we call that alert for our viewers, because "Red Flag Warning" sounded confusing and didn't highlight what specifically our viewers needed to know.
The winds will be breezy to windy (25-35 mph) and the humidity levels will be running very low. Despite around 0.25 inches of rain Sunday into Monday morning, the vegetation is still dry around the region and fires could easily start and/or spread tomorrow. The drought monitor has the entire region in a moderate drought.
While there are no alerts pertaining to it, there is also a concern for lowered air quality. Due to the directions of the winds (out of the northwest today/tonight), the air quality is at a moderate level, which is just above good, in Rockland and Westchester counties.
There will be a smell/odor in the air across those counties. On Tuesday, the winds will be out of the north and the lowered air quality will be across northern New Jersey. Across Rockland and Westchester counties, the air quality will bounce back to good.
Fire Weather Warning (Red Flag Warning) for Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties in effect for Tuesday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
With gusts up to 35 mph, relative humidity levels very low (30%) and very dry vegetation, there will be an elevated fire growth and spread potential.
Any fires that can develop will easily spread quickly. Any use of anything with an open flame could lead to fires starting with ease.