Hot, dry weather increases the risk of brush fires, meteorologist says

It has rained less than a quarter of an inch since June 13. Be careful with fireworks and camping during the Fourth of July holiday.

After a snowless winter, brush fires were an everyday occurrence in March and April.

Then it began to rain. And while we never got out the ark, the area became green.

On June 6, the precipitation deficit, which had been more than 5 inches, had dropped to three-quarters of an inch. But within a week, the faucet turned off. It has rained less than a quarter of an inch since June 13. The deficit shot back up to 3.23 inches.

"If there is an extended period of no rain ... there is a concern for brush fires," National Weather Service meteorologist Lee Robertson said this morning from Mount Holly, N.J. "Always use caution when camping, cooking outside or on the Fourth of July using fireworks."

There is a possibility of showers Tuesday and Wednesday, Robertson said, but they would be "scattered in nature." Temperatures will be in the 90s.

Keep an eye on the relative humidity, which naturally drops during the heat of the day, Robertson said. If the dew point -- a good judge of humidity -- is in the mid-60s, there's a fair amount of moisture in the air, he said. At 8 this morning, it was 61, while the temperature was 67, meaning it was "fairly moist," he said.

So, if it feels miserably humid outside, we are more likely to have rain and less likely to have fires, which would be good at this point. If it's crispy dry, well, we were there in March and April.

When was the last time you cut the grass? Are you watering it? If not, is it turning yellow? Not much you can do about it until it rains.

Until a significant front comes through -- and Robertson said that could happen Wednesday -- we're going to be hot and dry.

And, he reminded, be careful out there. It's easy to start a brush fire and they can be very difficult to put out.