BLUSTERY FIRE WEATHER WARNING
Snowflakes? Wacky spring lingers as tulips bloom
After some wet weather, the combo of dry and blustery conditions could spark fire weather concerns across the region.
The National Weather Service’s Boston office was warning of elevated fire weather potential from Sunday through Tuesday due to gusty winds and a dry environment.
“Monday and Tuesday probably have the greatest risk,” Frank Nocera, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Boston office, told the Herald. “Some rain Saturday evening could dampen things enough for Sunday.
“The ground and soil will have a chance to dry out for a more elevated fire risk on Monday and Tuesday,” he added.
The higher fire risk is common for early spring before plants are in full bloom.
“Everything is dead from winter,” the meteorologist said. “So it burns a lot easier when it’s brown.”
It’s important for people to use extra caution with fire pits and other fire activities, he added.
Ahead of those elevated fire weather conditions, overnight rain showers were expected to linger into this morning. Then as the showers end late in the morning, it should turn into a nice start to the weekend.
“It will be sunny and pretty pleasant,” Nocera said.
The bulk of the afternoon will be dry with temps in the 60s. There could be a few lingering showers tapering off late today.
Then temps on Sunday should tick down a bit into the upper 50s. Similar dry and quiet conditions are expected on Monday and Tuesday.
“Given the 20-30 mph gusts there could be elevated fire weather concerns,” reads the National Weather Service’s forecast discussion.
Then the next opportunity for unsettled wet weather will be late Tuesday into Wednesday as a cold frontal system swings through New England.
It should remain mild as the system is swinging through, so precipitation is expected to be all rain.
“However, as things are winding down much colder air filters in late Wed into early Thu.,” reads the National Weather Service forecast discussion. “Would not be surprised if there are some snowflakes mixing in.”
It’s nothing significant, Nocera said.
He added about the possible snowflakes, “That’s spring in New England.”