Burlington, VT – The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for much of Vermont and northern New York from Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening, warning of gusty winds and low humidity that could rapidly spread any new fires.
According to the NWS Burlington office, the watch covers St. Lawrence and Champlain Valleys in New York and all of central, eastern, and northern Vermont, including the Northeast Kingdom. The strongest winds and driest conditions are expected between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday.
Forecasters say southerly winds of 15 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph, combined with humidity levels as low as 28 to 40 percent and temperatures in the 70s, could create critical fire weather conditions.
A similar alert from the NWS Albany office extends the watch to southern Vermont, including Bennington and Windham Counties, where gusts up to 30 mph are forecast.
Officials caution that any fires that start could become difficult to contain due to the dry and windy setup. Vermont’s statewide debris burn ban remains in effect, prohibiting all open burning.
Residents are urged to avoid outdoor flames, stay updated on forecast changes, and monitor for possible Red Flag Warnings if conditions worsen Sunday.
