Matt and Danielle Noyes live in the Merrimack Valley, and while neither of the original brush fires – in Middleton and in the Breakheart Reservation – are near them, a new brush fire has ignited about a mile away. Matt explains how this happens, gives advice for if you find your own home within 3-4 miles of a brush fire and, of course, gives the full breakdown on the forecast in our Evening Essentials video…not from the studio, but from the yard!
A reminder that we posted a Special Update focused entirely on the fires earlier today that you can view by clicking here, as well as our 1°Insights deep-dive into the meteorology of the next several days, which you can view in our Tuesday Insights post, here.
Location: Merrimack Valley
Conditions: Elevated fire risk, smoky air, and upcoming weather changes
Tonight’s Evening Essentials is a little different—we’re filming Matt from the yard, close to the smoky haze that’s settled over parts of the Merrimack Valley. While the largest fires remain at Middleton and Breakheart Reservation, smaller offshoot fires are spreading, fueled by the breeze now coming out of the southeast. The unfortunate cause of all these fires is human activity, from campfires and fire pits to tossed cigarette butts.
With dry, crunchy ground vegetation and dry pine needles, the fires have plenty of fuel. While some light rain will fall overnight, only around a tenth to two-tenths of an inch is expected. This won’t be enough to fully dampen the fires, but it may offer a slight reprieve. Unfortunately, the increasing winds, with gusts up to 30 mph out of the south-southeast, could also fan the flames, spreading embers and smoke.
By early tomorrow, rain will clear out, leading to clouds in the morning that give way to breaks of afternoon sun and mild temperatures, climbing to about 70°F. Winds out of the south-southwest will remain easy-going during the day but will pick up again Wednesday night, with gusts up to 25 mph.
Thursday will bring even warmer weather, with temperatures nearing 80°F. While this is great news for those planning Halloween festivities, it’s not helpful for our firefighters. With no substantial rain forecasted, the warm and dry conditions will sustain an elevated fire risk.
A quick cold front will pass through Thursday night into Friday morning, delivering less rain than tonight’s showers and likely less than a tenth of an inch for many. Behind this front, cooler, drier air from Canada will sweep in, bringing a refreshing change but also fanning any remaining fires with a northwest to northerly breeze.
If you’re near any active fires, please stay alert and follow guidance from your local fire departments. For those away from the fires, the weekend weather will be excellent for outdoor plans, with mild temperatures and clear skies.
Danielle or Matt will provide a morning update on the latest weather conditions and fire advisories at 1degreeoutside.com and on the top of the home screen of Noyes’s 1DegreeOutside Weather app.
