Pittsburgh, PA – Dry air and gusty winds are combining across Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey to create an elevated wildfire risk through 8 p.m. Tuesday, prompting warnings from the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, State College, and Mount Holly.
According to the National Weather Service, the warning spans western, central, and eastern Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh, State College, and Allentown, as well as northwestern New Jersey counties like Sussex and Warren. Wind gusts between 20 to 35 mph, coupled with humidity levels as low as 20 percent, are increasing the likelihood of fast-spreading fires along and south of I-80.
Officials caution residents to avoid outdoor burning and to properly extinguish ignition sources, including cigarettes, matches, and machinery sparks. In dry spring conditions, even a small flame can quickly escalate.
In eastern Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey, temperatures will rise into the upper 40s to upper 50s, further drying grasses and leaf litter. These “fine fuels” are highly flammable and pose a significant wildfire hazard.
Residents are encouraged to monitor local alerts and stay updated through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources at dcnr.pa.gov/Communities/Wildfire.
Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged until conditions improve later this week.
