(Photo : Wikimedia Commons/Mike McMillan/USFS)
Multiple states in the Northeast are at risk of wildfire. The National Weather Service (NWS) released a new map warning the residents from 10 US states to be on the lookout as they are at higher-than-usual risk of wildfire.
Meteorologists Reveal 10 States Prone To Wildfire
Meteorologists from NWS released a new map to warn netizens from the 10 states that they are likely to experience wildfire due to low humidity and gusty winds. The list includes Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Maine.
And because of the anticipated severity of the wildfire season in 2024, some of these states are keeping burn bans in place for a longer period of time.
"Dry conditions with gusty winds are expected across the region today. Minimum relative humidity values will drop as low as 20 percent in some areas with south to southwest wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph during the afternoon," a warning from the NWS office read.
"Although this Spring has been wet, fine fuels such as dead grass and leaf litter will quickly dry out in these conditions. If any fires were to start, the windy and dry weather will increase the risk of wildfire spread, making it difficult to contain."
The state of New York is extending its burn ban until May 14 due to the dry weather. Certain kinds of outdoor fires are still permitted, such as campfires and tiny cooking fires that are no larger than four feet in diameter and three feet in height.
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation states that celebratory or ceremonial burns are permitted as well, even ones that are started to get rid of religious objects or flags.
Nevertheless, burning trash, branches, leaves, or treated wood is forbidden until May 14, when conditions are predicted to make wildfires less likely due to the possibility that the fire will spread to the neighboring dry grasslands and bushes.
David Shallenberger, NSW lead meteorologist, said a red flag warning -- a prediction alert indicating that conditions are favorable for wildfires to ignite and spread quickly -- is not anticipated in response to the special weather statement in the Northeast.
According to Shallenberger, the season was starting to green up and had a period of rainfall. Additionally, those that are combustible have recently had relatively high moisture content.
Although experts stressed that inhabitants of these 10 states should exercise particular vigilance for the time being, the risk is only temporary.
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Wildfire in Chile
In February, a raging wildfire in Chile killed 112 people and destroyed thousands of homes. Dozens of people were also reported missing.
President Gabriel Boric warned that the nation faces a "tragedy of very great magnitude." Authorities at the time estimated that hundreds of people were still missing, which heightened fears that the death toll may grow when additional corpses are found on slopes and in homes that have been destroyed by wildfires.
The fierce fire also threatened the borders of two popular tourist destinations, Vina del Mar and Valparaiso. Drone footage captured in the Vina del Mar region showed the rubble of ruined buildings with collapsing corrugated iron roofs. The entire communities were completely destroyed. There were burning cars scattered all over the streets, too.
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