Temps could hit 80 on Saturday, but winds increase fire risk today

Forecasters say there’s an increased risk of fire spread on Thursday across New Jersey due to very dry, windy conditions.

The relative humidity will be around 20% to 30% and northwest winds of 10 mph to 20 mph will gust as high as 25 mph, the National Weather Service said.

“These conditions, along with the continued drying of fine fuels, could support the rapid spread of any fires that ignite, which could quickly become difficult to control,” the weather service said Thursday morning.

In addition, outdoor burning is strongly discouraged.

Earlier this week, firefighters fully contained a wildfire in Wharton State Forest that burned 2,300 acres in Waterford, Camden County.

Temperatures were in the low 20s to mid 30s at 6:30 a.m. and are expected to rise to the low to mid 50s this afternoon under sunny skies. Overnight, temperatures will drop back into the mid to upper 30s.

Friday will feature “more clouds than sun” and high temps in the low to mid 60s, the weather service said in its morning forecast discussion. There’s also a 20%-50% chance of very light rain — no more than a few hundredths of an inch.

We warm up considerably over the weekend. On Saturday highs will be in the 70s with southern areas flirting with 80 degrees under a mix of sun and clouds.

Sunday will be cloudy with a chance of showers but remain mild, with highs ranging from the low 60s in northern New Jersey to the low 70s in South Jersey.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.