Weather monitoring

The effort preparing a comprehensive prescribed burn plan, constructing safe firebreaks and assembling burn crew members and equipment will be time well-spent when it is time to conduct the burn. As the time of year and weather conditions approach the plan prescription, follow weather forecasts to estimate the date when planned conditions are most likely to occur. Confirm that the burn crew and equipment will be available when needed.

In the days leading up to the burn, obtain the latest weather forecast for the day of the burn and the following night. When possible get a 2-day forecast. The website for the National Weather Service Forecast Office (www.weather.gov) has a Local Fire Weather Forecast for each region of the state. It will have a 2-day forecast for temperature, wind speed and direction, and maximum and minimum humidity. It will also forecast factors important for smoke dispersal – transport wind speed, mixing height, ventilation rate and atmospheric stability. It has a 3 to 7 day forecast so conditions can be followed for the week prior to the burn.