A red flag warning is in effect across Long Island today through 6 p.m. due to expected critical fire weather conditions, according to the National Weather Service.
A red flag warning is issued when a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels will create the conditions for fire to spread rapidly if ignited. The warning was issued around 9 a.m. this morning and is also in effect for New York City and the lower Hudson Valley.
The same conditions resulted in several brush fires across Riverhead Town over the weekend, including a major fire in Baiting Hollow on Saturday which took 125 firefighters from 18 departments, working 10 hours through the night, to extinguish. Red flag warnings were in effect when those brush fires ignited.
The National Weather Service advises to avoid activities that could spark a wildfire, including smoking and igniting campfires, and to make a wildfire plan in the case of a necessary evacuation.
Northwest winds of 15-25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph and relative humidity as low as 29% are expected today, according to the forecast.
The warning comes as the region continues to experience unusually dry weather with near-record high temperatures this fall. Federal agencies classify Long Island as in a moderate drought, although the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which has its own drought measurement conditions, has not issued a drought warning for the region.
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