The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly on Tuesday afternoon issued the watch. It covers all but the five counties in northeastern New Jersey, as well as parts of eastern Pennsylvania.
Because of recent meteorological conditions, the potential exists for rapid spread if uncontrolled fires develop, NWS said. The fire danger will be elevated due to the strong wind gusts, recent lack of precipitation, low humidity, and dry fields, grasses and underbrush.
Winds will be from the southwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25. The stronger wind gusts will occur in the early afternoon through the evening, NWS said. The watch hours are Wednesday, 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Relative humidity values are expected to be near 30%, or less, by mid-afternoon, NWS said.
According to the weather service, a fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Be alert for later forecasts and a possible Red Flag Warning.
NWS forecasters use a Red Flag designation to call attention to weather conditions that may result in extreme burning conditions. It is issued when the forecaster has a high degree of confidence that Red Flag criteria will occur within 24 hours of issuance.
Criteria occurs when a geographical area has been in a dry spell for a week or two, or for a shorter period, if before spring green-up or after fall color, and the National Fire Danger Rating System is high to extreme and certain weather parameters are predicted.