Connecticut’s brush fire risk rated high

Sunnier and warmer weather are in the forecast this week in Connecticut, according to the National Weather Service.

But as temperatures could reach 80 degrees in parts of the state this week, the dry weather means the seasonal risk of wild fires remains high.

Monday is expected to be sunny and breezy with a high in the mid-60s, and winds of around 10 to 18 mph, the weather service said. Those winds could gust up to 40 mph in some places along the coast.

That wind is part of what’s driving the risk of fire Monday. The weather service issued a bulletin for Connecticut’s northern counties that “a very dry air mass combined with gusty winds will result in elevated fire weather concerns today.”

Connecticut’s spring fire season lasts until mid-May. Brush fires can quickly spread across the ground, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The state agency said Monday the forest fire danger level is “very high” for the northern counties – Litchfield, Hartford, Tolland and Windham counties – while the rest of the state is at “high” risk of forest fire. Both levels mean open burning permits are no longer valid if property owners are burning brush within 100 feet of grassland or woods.

Sunday’s fire danger level was “high,” while areas of northern Connecticut were listed as “very high” risk for fire, according to DEEP.

Similar weather is in the forecast for Tuesday when sunny skies and breezy conditions — gusting up to nearly 30 mph — are expected with highs reaching the mid-60s, the weather service said.

Temperatures could approach 70 degrees on Wednesday with mostly sunny skies.

On Thursday and Friday, temperatures could reach 80 in northern parts of the state.