Today’s warm temperatures, gusty winds and ongoing dry conditions have led the National Weather Service to warn of an increased risk of wildfires today.
The Weather Service also has issued a freeze warning for Atlantic, Cumberland and Ocean Counties for early Friday, due to forecasted low temperatures likely going below freezing in some places tonight and early tomorrow morning.
Today’s high temperatures are expected to be in the low to mid 60s across the region and winds could gust to 35 mph this afternoon, the weather service said. The greatest risk that wildfires could spread quickly, if ignition occurs, will be late this morning through late afternoon, when the humidity is lowest, the weather service said.
Temperatures already at 6 a.m. across the region, including along the coast, were in the upper 50s to the low 60s.
The National Drought Monitor, which last week listed all of New Jersey as abnormally dry, will release a new report later this morning. Check back for more information.