Red flag fire warnings across most of N.J., but rain could be days away

It will be another sunny, mild, windy and dry weekend across New Jersey, as the risk for wildfires remains high and a chance for rain lingers on the horizon.
Expect sunny skies for Saturday and wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph from mid-morning through the evening, with high temperatures in the low- to mid-60s, according to the National Weather Service.
Look for lows in the 30s to low-40s Saturday night before sunny skies and mild temperatures return on Sunday.
A red flag warning is in effect across most of New Jersey through Saturday night. That means conditions that could lead to fires are expected or already occurring, thanks to a combination of high winds, low humidity and dry brush.
Wildfires continue to pop up across the Garden State as firefighters have made significant progress battling the biggest blaze, which has consumed nearly 5,000 acres in West Milford and across the New York border.
Firefighters have been hoping for some much-needed rain to dampen down the flames.
The state Department of Environmental Protection declared a drought warning in New Jersey on Wednesday and most of the state remains under “severe” drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
“Extreme” drought conditions exist in Atlantic County as well as in most of Ocean and Burlington counties and parts of Gloucester, Camden, Cumberland and Cape May counties.
That’s why weather watchers are closely monitoring our next best chance for rainfall, which could arrive by mid-week.
Rain is likely Wednesday night into Thursday, with a potential for an inch of precipitation, according to the weather service’s New York office, which covers Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties. The weather service office in Mount Holly agreed with the timing of precipitation, noting that it could be accompanied by windy conditions.
Stormy weather from the West could bring much-needed precipitation, AccuWeather agreed, though details remain uncertain.
This weekend, tidal flooding along the coast remains a concern Saturday morning, with minor flooding expected along the Jersey Shore and Delaware Bay. Coastal flood advisories are in effect through noon for most areas and 1 p.m. for Atlantic and Cape May counties.
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Matt Gray may be reached at [email protected].