Some Hawaiian drivers were urged to park in paved areas on Friday as a National Weather Service (NWS) red flag warning warned of “extreme fire behavior” should sparks ignite.
A red flag warning was issued for the leeward portions of all Hawaiian Islands through 6 p.m. local time Friday night. Although red flag warnings don’t predict new fires, the warning means that critical fire weather is occurring or will begin soon. Critical fire weather occurs when there are strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures that contribute to extreme fire behavior.
“Outdoor burning is not recommended,” the NWS Honolulu red flag warning said on its website. “Heat from vehicle exhaust systems can ignite dry grass. Park cars on areas that are paved or where vegetation is trimmed and cleared. High winds contribute to wildfire hazard. Delay activities that could throw off sparks until the wind dies down.”
Eastward winds were between 20 and 30 miles per hour, with gusts up to 45 mph with relative humidity as low as 40 to 45 percent.
Red flag warnings are normal for this time of year, NWS meteorologist Thomas Vaughan told Newsweek. As Hawaii transitions from its dry period to its winter wet season, some vegetation remains dry as winds pick up during the season change. Wildfire season typically runs from August through November, Vaughan said.
The windy conditions could linger into Saturday morning, Vaughan added, but moisture later in the day is expected to quell fire concerns.
In addition to the red flag warning in Hawaii, a high surf advisory, gale warning, small craft advisory, wind advisory and coastal flood statement also had been issued for the Aloha State. Many of the advisories were related to windy conditions.
“Trade winds will remain windy through the weekend,” the NWS office in Honolulu posted on X, formerly Twitter, earlier this week. “Showers will pass over windward and mauka areas, while also lingering over some leeward areas. Drier air should move in by Friday, followed by increased showers Saturday.”
In August 2023, Hawaii battled explosive wildfires on Maui that tore through Lahaina. The fires killed more than 100 people and left thousands of people homeless.
The red flag warning in Hawaii comes as other regions of the United States have also experienced a high risk of wildfires, namely the Northeast, including New Jersey and New York. A dry spell across the Northeast has exacerbated drought and wildfire conditions across several states, contributing to the record number of brush fires the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) has responded to over the past week.
The National Interagency Fire Center reported that there are four states currently battling large wildfires—California, Massachusetts, North Carolina and West Virginia.
The NWS also issued red flag warnings for southern Connecticut, southern Vermont, Maine, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island on Friday.
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