National Weather Service: Red Flag warning for LI on Saturday

The National Weather Service issued an increased Red Flag warning for Saturday on Long Island, with a combination of gusty winds, low humidity and parched conditions.

"The conditions for the spread of fire will be more amplified, because the winds are going to be stronger,” NWS meteorologist John Cristantello said of Saturday. “It's going to be dry, and it still hasn't been raining a whole lot. So the dryness is already there, it's just more about the stronger winds.”

The weather service on Friday said there was a fire risk danger on Long Island but Saturday winds will increase to around 30 mph, with temperatures reaching the low 60s throughout the weekend, Cristantello said.

The warning will last from 7 a.m. Saturday to 6 p.m. and affects Long Island, New York City, the Lower Hudson Valley and northeastern New Jersey.

New York State and the state Department of Environmental Conservation declared a burn ban through Nov. 30, prohibiting all outside fires.

The service also said to use extra caution when handling any potential ignition sources, such as machinery or matches, and ensure to properly extinguish or dispose cigarette butts.

The DEC had listed Long Island, New York City and the Hudson Valley as “very high” on its Fire Danger Rating Area Risk Level for Friday, warning that fires can start easily from “all causes” and spread immediately after ignition.

There is a 50% chance of rain Wednesday night into Thursday, the weather service said.

This week, western Nassau was declared to be in "severe drought" status by the U.S. Drought Monitor while the rest of Long Island has been in moderate drought status, with no significant rain for September, October and so far this month.