1 week Ago
Lehigh County has joined a growing list of Pennsylvania counties banning open burning while drought conditions continue throughout the state. County commissioners Wednesday passed a temporary 30-day burn ban, which goes into effect Friday night. The vote comes amid wildfire risks from dry conditions, strong winds and fluctuating temperatures, according to a county news release.
The ban, recommended by fire officials all over the county, prohibits all outdoor burning except for propane or gas stoves for outdoor cooking, charcoal grills, tobacco use and campfires contained within fire rings at state, federal or Department of Environmental Protection-licensed campgrounds. First and second offenses for violating the burn ban bring fines of $100 and $200, respectively. All subsequent violations carry a $300 fine.
More than two dozen counties have passed burn bans, including neighboring Bucks, Carbon and Berks counties. Northampton County passed a burn ban last week while a wildfire burned on top of Blue Mountain in Lehigh Township . Crews took about a week to contain that fire .
The burn ban comes during an extremely dry period for the state. With only .02 inches of rain last month, October was the driest month on record for the Lehigh Valley.
The National Weather Service said .29 inches of rain have fallen so far this month, which is not enough to put a “meaningful dent” in drought conditions. The U.
S. Drought Monitor, which tracks and displays drought conditions throughout the country, listed both Lehigh and Northampton counties as having severe drought conditions in its weekly drought map. The state DEP has placed both counties under a drought watch.
The two counties are among 33 statewide with those conditions. Nearby Berks and Schuylkill counties are under drought warnings. There is no rain in the forecast over the next week or so, outside of a 20% chance Thursday night.
Forecasters with the local weather service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, said the forecast is more uncertain beyond Tuesday, and there could be a unsettled weather pattern next week that could bring some rain. They noted in their daily forecast discussion that a lot of uncertainty remains. Drought Monitor update: 98% of our area is experiencing severe drought, including 14% within extreme drought.
Delmarva will get some light rainfall tonight, but otherwise no rain for at least the next week. More drought info at https://t.co/1hm2sP6qIp #PAwx #NJwx #DEwx #MDwx pic.
twitter.com/hzDArPGvgn — NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) November 14, 2024 The DEP said the following water suppliers in the Lehigh Valley have requested voluntary water conservation: Temperatures should be in the 50s and 60s over the next few days. Here is the extended forecast from the National Weather Service: Friday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 58.
Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 61..
