Dry conditions in North Alabama put our area at ‘very high’ risk for wildfires

ALABAMA (WHNT) — With late September being the last time North Alabama has seen rainfall, the combination of warmer temperatures, low humidity, and drying vegetation is causing a very high risk for wildfires.

“It’s been really dry across the Tennessee Valley,” said News 19 Chief Meteorologist Danielle Dozier. “In fact, 36% of the state is facing drought conditions. and here locally, limestone county is facing the worst.”

Dozier says that North Alabama has not seen measurable rainfall so far in October.

“If the month ended today, it would go down as one of the driest Octobers on record-tying 1924, and that’s with records dating back to the late 1800s,” said Dozier.

The drought conditions mean this area has a higher risk of wildfires.

“When you start having grass curing out, you don’t really have a buffer to keep the fire from spreading, and then you have the leaves, the, the pine straw…so we have, more of an opportunity for fire to catch up and spread,” said Kyle Byrd.

Byrd is a fire specialist with the Alabama Forestry Commission.

LOOKING FOR THE EXTENDED FORECAST? Click here to learn how to download the Live Alert 19 app

He said everyday work like towing chains scraping the road, or a bush hog accidentally hitting a rock and causing sparks could now start a fire.

Because of this, he and his team are asking people to be mindful.

“Anything that, you could do that, would postpone any kind of outdoor activities with equipment, postpone any burning….if you can postpone that until we get adequate rainfall, then it would be very beneficial for everybody,” said Byrd.

News 19 will keep you updated both in our newscasts and online as the dryer weather continues.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.