By Holly Stepp
The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Copyright 2007 The News and Observer
RALEIGH, N.C. — A combination of record high temperatures, low relative humidity and a strong dry cold front created the near perfect conditions that fueled Thursday’s huge blaze in North Raleigh.
National Weather Service and U.S. Forestry Service officials in Raleigh opted not to issue a Red Flag warning Thursday morning but by 2:30 p.m. had reversed course to warn that conditions were ripe for fire.
“We issue Red Flag warnings when the relative humidity drops below 25 percent and wind gusts are expected to be above 30 miles per hour,” said Brandon Vincent, a meteorologist at the weather service’s Raleigh office.
But forest service officials decided that “fuel moisture levels” — the dryness of the ground, trees and brush — weren’t low enough to merit the earlier warning, Vincent said.
Vincent added that the measures only focused on the items that fuel wildfires and not urban materials.
As the day went on, both agencies decided to issue the Red Flag warning and caution people to avoid any outdoor burning.
Although such conditions are not unheard of during the winter months, Thursday’s weather conditions were not typical.
“It happens, but it is unusual to have such record highs in February,” Vincent said.
The high temperature at Raleigh-Durham International was 73 degrees, breaking the record of 71 degrees set in 1955.
A Red Flag warning remains in the effect through the morning.