National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Albany, NY

Weather Forecast Office

NWS Albany Fire Weather Webpage

Weather.gov > Albany, NY > NWS Albany Fire Weather Webpage

 

 

Questions/comments may be directed to Mike Main, Fire Weather Program Leader

Red Flag Program

Latest Fire Weather Watch / Red Flag Warning

severe

Fire Weather Watches and Red Flag Warnings are issued when the combination of dry fuels and weather conditions support extreme fire danger and/or fire behavior. These conditions alert land management agencies to the potential for widespread new ignitions or control problems with existing fires, both of which could pose a threat to life and property.  A Red Flag event is the combination of critical meteorological fire weather conditions coinciding with significantly dry fuels. This combination can lead to the occurrence of large and dangerous wildfires. Since the potential for Red Flag conditions does not exist without receptive fuel conditions, knowledge of existing fuel conditions is essential.     

 

Red Flag
 Criteria

Vegetation Stage I or II
cured/transition - Spring/Fall

Vegetation Stage III
   green - Summer
Relative Humidity Less than 30% for at least 2 hours Less than 30% for at least 2 hours
Rainfall N/A Less than 1/4 inch in previous 8 days
Wind

Sustained or frequent gusts above 25 mph
for at least 2 hours

Sustained or frequent gusts above 25 mph
for at least 2 hours 
Fuel Partner confirmation of dry/receptive fuels Keetch-Byram Drought Index above 300
and partner confirmation of dry/receptive fuels
Temperature N/A N/A

                                                                            
 

Fire Weather Watch is issued 12 - 96 hours in advance of expected onset of red flag criteria

 

Red Flag Warning is issued when red flag criteria will occur in 48 hours or less

 

Special Weather Statement is issued when conditions support enhanced fire weather behavior, but at levels below Red Flag criteria. SPSs can also be issued to raise elevated fire awareness amongst the fire weather community and the general public.

 

 

Min RH Day 1 Max Wind Gust Day 1

SPC Fire Weather Outlook - Day 1
Min RH Forecast - Day 1 Max Gust Forecast - Day 1 SPC Fire Weather Outlook - Day 1

 

Min RH Day 2 Max Wind Gust Day 2

SPC Fire Weather Outlook - Day 2
Min RH Forecast - Day 2 Max Gust Forecast - Day 2 SPC Fire Weather Outlook - Day 2

 

Min RH Day 3 Max Wind Gust Day 3 SPC Fire Weather Outlook - Day 3
Min RH Forecast - Day 3 Max Gust Forecast - Day 3 SPC Fire Weather Outlook - Day 3

 

Min RH Day 4 Max Wind Gust Day 4

SPC Fire Weather Outlook - Day 4
Min RH Forecast - Day 4 Max Gust Forecast - Day 4 SPC Fire Weather Outlook - Day 4

 

Min RH Day 5 Max Wind Gust Day 5

SPC Fire Weather Outlook - Day 5
Min RH Forecast - Day 5 Max Gust Forecast - Day 5 SPC Fire Weather Outlook - Day 5

 

Min RH Day 6 Max Wind Gust Day 6

SPC Fire Weather Outlook - Day 6
Min RH Forecast - Day 6 Max Gust Forecast - Day 6 SPC Fire Weather Outlook - Day 6

 

Min RH Day 7 Max Wind Gust Day 7

SPC Fire Weather Outlook - Day 7
Min RH Forecast - Day 7 Max Gust Forecast - Day 7 SPC Fire Weather Outlook - Day 7

 

National 7-Day Significant Fire Potential

Significant Fire Potential Significant Fire Potential Significant Fire Potential
Day 1 Significant Fire Potential Day 2 Significant Fire Potential Day 3 Significant Fire Potential
Significant Fire Potential Significant Fire Potential Significant Fire Potential Significant Fire Potential
Day 4 Significant Fire Potential Day 5 Significant Fire Potential Day 6 Significant Fire Potential Day 7 Significant Fire Potential

These products are updated each weekday, usually by mid-afternoon Mountain time.

Explanation of the 7-Day Significant Fire Potential

National Significant Wildlife Fire Potential Outlooks

outlook outlook outlook outlook
Current Month Outlook Next Month Outlook Month 3 Outlook Month 4 Outlook

 

 

Local Products & Resources

   

Fire Weather Watch / Red Flag Warning

Routine Fire Weather Forecast

Area Forecast Discussion

Special Weather Statement

Fire Weather Graphics

2026 Annual Operating Plans (AOPs)

New York State Annual Operations Plan

WFO BTV AOP for VT

WFO BOX AOP for southern New England

 

2026 NYS Spring Meeting Presentations

1. NWS Albany Review of 2025 Fire Weather Season

2. 2026 Fire Weather Forecast

3. Changes to NWS Operations for 2026

4. October 16, 2025 Fire Weather Exercise

 

Fire Weather Matrix - Experimental 

Fire Weather Dashboard
           
Planning forecast with color-coded thresholds                                                     Point and click fire weather forecast - mobile friendly 

 

                                                

                                               


 

 

severe flood
10-hour fuel moisture - observed 10-hour fuel moisture - forecast

 

KBDI Observed KBDI Forecast
Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) - observed Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) - forecast
severe severe severe
Drought Monitor - Northeast
Interactive Map		 Monthly Drought Outlook Keetch-Byram Drought Index
 
severe flood flood
Three-day Observed Precipitation Totals Five-day Observed Precipitation Totals Days Since 0.25" Precipitation

 

severe flood
New York State Mesonet 5cm Soil Moisture Percentiles New York State Mesonet Current Soil Conditions

 

Snow Depth Resources
Northeast River Forecast Center Snow Information Page

NOHRSC Interactive Snow Information

Observed Precipitation Resources
Northeast River Forecast Center

Northeast Regional Climate Center

National Water Prediction Service

 


 

severe severe
6-10 Day Temperature Probability
Interactive Map		 6-10 Day Precipitation Probability
Interactive Map

 

severe severe
8-14 Day Temperature Probability
Interactive Map		 8-14 Day Precipitation Probability
Interactive Map

 

severe severe
Week 3-4 Temperature Probability Week 3-4 Precipitation Probability

 

severe severe
One-Month Temperature Probability
Interactive Map		 One-Month Precipitation Probability
Interactive Map

 

severe severe
Three-Month Temperature Probability
Interactive Map		 Three-Month Precipitation Probability
Interactive Map

 

 

 

 

NY Fire

VT Fire
New York State Fire Danger Page Vermont Fire Danger Page

 

severe severe
WFAS Observed Fire Danger WFAS Forecast Fire Danger
Connecticut Fire Danger Page

 

 

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