There's a fire weather warning in Milwaukee, WI!! (climate, snow, warm)

[marcus903]

When I first saw this, I was like

This means that there is a possibility of there being a wildfire in Milwaukee, WI.

Who else is shocked and anxious for this?

[Cambium]

Join the club. We have brush fires here and there around here and have been under red flag and fire weather warning for a little bit now..

[nei]

Think I've had one for most of last week

[ilovemycomputer90]

We've had several of those and there was a fire on Friday night. I believe there have been scattered brush fires in much of the region lately. Not surprised considering the dry conditions, though the grass is still very green.

[313Weather]

Not uncommon at all when the air's dry, warm and windy.

[Stumbler.]

Wow, yikes.

Originally Posted by 313Weather

Not uncommon at all when the air's dry, warm and windy.

I know that east coast or midwestern forest or bush can still be at risk obviously, though not as much as the obviously less blessed with moisture western forests, especially the Mediterranean climate ones.

But how often is it for fire like that to happen to mid-western to eastern hardwood type of forest so early in the year and not even in summer but this early in spring? I'd imagine not much (have rarely heard about it up to now -- spring forest/brush fire risk I mean).

[Nivalis]

I'm thinking that the lack of a thaw from winter snow has left the ground drier than normal for this time of year, so any extended period of dryness could trigger wildfires. This is a hunch, so I have no data to back this up right now, but it really interests me that places in the NE that were swamped with rain last summer/autumn are now experiencing wildfires. IIRC the Midwest was wetter than normal last year too.

[nei]

Two links from someone's Facebook.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/557772_10100528725481769_7807243_52460083_21418025 70_n.jpg (broken link)

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/580810_10100528724897939_7807243_52460080_87310080 5_n.jpg (broken link)

Eastern Suffolk, Long Island, NY (looks like it's in the Pine Barrens)

[SeaJay87]

Wow, I'm used to this kind of thing in AZ but never really hear of it in these regions.

[43north87west]

Shocked and anxious? No. It is unusually early though.