Dry and gusty conditions bring fire danger to Long Island

While spring temperatures are expected for much of Long Island this weekend and into next week, dry and gusty conditions on Saturday are increasing the risk of fire, according to the National Weather Service.

With high temperatures hovering around 60 on Saturday afternoon, with sunny conditions, the NWS issued a statement saying residents should be wary of starting fires, as wind gusts of up to 30 mph and low humidity could cause them to spread out of control.

"These conditions ... could support the rapid spread of any fires that ignite, which could quickly become difficult to control," a NWS special weather statement said. "Conditions should improve this evening as winds diminish and relative humidity increases."

New York State’s "annual statewide burn ban," which prohibits residential brush burning, is in effect until May 14, the weather service added in its statement.

Conditions on Sunday will be slightly cloudy with temperatures in the mid to low 50s for much of Long Island, according to NWS meteorologist Matthew Wunsch. Temperatures will quickly heat up starting early next week, he said.

"As we get into Monday, the high pressure shifts offshore, the winds shift back south and you really get the warming trend," he said. "On Monday, highs will be in the upper 50s to mid 60s. It’s very possible that, as you get toward the city, it could be in the 70s."

There is a "pretty low chance" for some scattered showers on Monday afternoon, but those odds were sitting at about 20% as of Saturday morning’s forecast, Wunsch explained.

Summer-like temperatures could take hold for much of Long Island by the middle of next week.

"By Tuesday, much of the island should be in the low 70s," Wunsch said. "And by Wednesday and even Thursday, it’s possible some places, especially on the North Shore, could get into the upper 70s or hit 80."

By Sam Kmack

sam.kmack@newsday.com

Sam Kmack covers the Town of Islip for Newsday. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California and previously worked as a city watchdog reporter in the Phoenix metro area, as well as an investigative journalist at the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting.