40M Americans are under fire alerts after record-breaking heat triggered huge blazes across NJ
About 40 million Americans are threatened by fire as record-breaking heat has sparked fires in New Jersey and Wisconsin, while another 50 million are under severe weather warnings this weekend.
A massive wildfire has devastated nearly 1,000 acres of West Milford, New Jersey, leaving firefighters scrambling to contain the beast.
At 10 p.m. Saturday, the New Jersey Wildfire Department announced it had the fire “100 percent under control,” but there are fears more could break out.
Firefighters had been battling the blaze along Route 23 North and Spring Lake Road since earlier this week, and it’s not known how the monstrous blaze started. However, authorities said the unusually warm temperatures, dry vegetation and trees did not help prevent the fire from devastating much of New Jersey.
Emergency services used helicopters to drop water on the blaze and faced a dangerous situation Thursday night as embers flew off and sparked smaller blazes, but firefighters aren’t too worried.
“We have a lot of confidence in our steering lines. We will continue to mope, patrol and cut down all dead trees,” said Greg McLaughlin of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. CBS news.
A massive wildfire has destroyed nearly 1,000 acres of West Milford, New Jersey, leaving firefighters scrambling to contain the beast
At 10 p.m. Saturday, the New Jersey Wildfire Department announced the fire was “100 percent under control”
Firefighters have been battling the blaze along Route 23 North and Spring Lake Road since earlier this week, and it’s not known how the monstrous blaze started
A separate fire broke out in Wisconsin on Wednesday. By Friday afternoon, the 3,100-hectare fire was 100 percent under control as of Thursday.
The fire destroyed three buildings and a barn, but how the fire started is not known.
The Northeast has seen high temperatures, with places like Newark and New York City hitting in the 90s, making the start of spring feel more like high summer.
Dozens of heat records were broken on Wednesday and Thursday, and NYC experienced its warmest April day in years. Many New Yorkers went to the city’s various parks to bathe in the warm weather and ride their bikes.
While the weather will be a bit cooler over the weekend, temperatures should rise again throughout the week, peaking again on Friday.
Authorities said the unusually warm temperatures, dry vegetation and trees did not help the fire devastate much of New Jersey.
Earlier this week, a fire broke out in Wisconsin on Wednesday. By Friday afternoon, the 3,100-acre fire was 100 percent contained as of Thursday (Photo: New Jersey fire)
On Sunday and Monday, temperatures will drop back to normal April temperatures between the 40s and 60s.
About 50 million Americans have been warned of severe weather in the Great Lakes and Great Plains on Saturday.
An “increased” risk of storms has fallen, according to Missouri, Louisiana and Arkansas CNNwhile the surrounding area – Memphis, Tennessee; Shreveport, Louisiana; and Jackson, Mississippi – has only a small risk.
Those areas can get hail the size of golf balls. The biggest hail threats will hit Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana and parts of Texas.
The region could also experience flash flooding with one to four inches of rain, according to CNN.
Many heat records were broken this week, with Newark and New York City in the 90s. Temperatures will return to normal this weekend as severe storms are expected Sunday through Monday
As the unusually warm weather continues on Thursday and Friday, New Yorkers flocked to the city’s park to enjoy the warmth
Parks were filled with city visitors enjoying the break from the cold weather
The storm will move into the Ohio Valley on Sunday and bring potentially dangerous storms to the Southwest during the late weekend.
Isolated storms and possible wind damage will hit the southeast on Sunday.
However, as the week progresses, temperatures will begin to rise again.
Minneapolis is expected to hit the low 80’s on Friday while Marquette will be in the low 70’s.
After that, a cold front is expected to roll through, according to the newspaper fox again.
The front will reach the Upper Midwest on Saturday morning and the Great Lakes on Sunday. The Northeast will feel the effects on Monday.