Low humidity and winds could make any fires spread rapidly Thursday in the Lehigh Valley, according to forecasters.
The National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey, said relative humidity values will drop to 30-40% in the afternoon, and that, along with gusts of up to 20 mph and dry conditions, could cause the “rapid spread” of any fires that ignite.
Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe and Berks counties are all under an elevated fire risk Thursday. Conditions should improve later in the day.
Outdoor burning is discouraged, and potential ignition sources, such as smoking materials like cigarette butts, should be properly extinguished and disposed of, according to forecasters.
Lower Mount Bethel Township and Weisenberg Township have issued burn bans because of the increased fire risk.
Temperatures are expected to reach into the upper 50s. Highs will jump into the 60s over the weekend before going into the 70s and 80s next week.
Here is the extended forecast from the National Weather Service:
Friday: Patchy fog before 7 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 84.