When will New Jersey get much-needed rain to battle wildfire?
Much-needed rain is on its way to the Mid-Atlantic, where firefighters are battling a wildfire in New Jersey, while the central U.S. braces for severe thunderstorms again as part of what forecasters called an "active" spring weather pattern.
The weather system is expected to bring strong to severe thunderstorms to the central and southern High Plains on April 25 and in the days after, with the highest risk coming from large hail, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy rains and possible flooding could be seen across parts of northeast New Mexico, the Texas and Oklahoma panhandle, eastern Oklahoma and eastern Kansas.
It will then stretch east toward the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms to the region.
The forthcoming rain was good news for crews battling the Jones Road wildfire in central New Jersey that erupted on April 22 and has consumed 12,250 acres. Firefighters have made progress on the blaze, but officials said it would take a soaking rain to stop the flames in their tracks. Authorities arrested 19-year-old Joseph Kling for allegedly causing the fire by improperly extinguishing a bonfire.
Crews make progress on wildfire, but need the rain
The New Jersey wildfire destroyed a commercial building and multiple outbuildings and vehicles, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. It was 50% contained as of April 24. Authorities said there were no injuries reported and the fire was affecting uninhabited forest land after first threatening homes in two townships.
Forecasters in the Mount Holly, New Jersey office of the National Weather Service said there is still an increased risk for rapid fire spread the afternoon of April 25 across parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania because of low humidity, winds and temperatures near 80 degrees.
"The rains that push into the East Friday night into Saturday may bring some relief to the ongoing wild fires over New Jersey, along with some relief to the ongoing moderate to severe drought conditions from the Mid-Atlantic into southern New England," the National Weather Service said in its April 25 forecast.
Thunderstorms stretch for days on end
Parts of the central United States were already been hit by severe thunderstorms and hail more than 5 inches wide earlier in the week. On April 24, AccuWeather reported there were several preliminary tornado reports from West Texas into the Oklahoma Panhandle.
Parts of Oklahoma and Texas can expect possible severe storms again the evening of April 25, and the threat will continue into the weekend, according to AccuWeather.
As the new week begins, threats including severe thunderstorms and strong tornadoes will shift to the upper and middle Mississippi Valleys and across much of the southern and central Plains, the Storm Prediction Center said. Eastern Kansas, northwest Missouri, most of Iowa, southern Minnesota and southwest Wisconsin are at the greatest risk.