On March 30, a wildfire ignited in the Penn State Forest region within the Pinelands of Burlington County, NJ. The source of the fire was non-meteorological, but gusty southerly winds helped to cause rapid fire spread.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS PHI wrote it up.
On March 30, a wildfire ignited in the Penn State Forest region within the Pinelands of Burlington County, NJ. The source of the fire was non-meteorological, but gusty southerly winds helped to cause rapid fire spread. The fire was most intense the afternoon, evening, and overnight of March 30, before a cold front with widespread showers helped with containment efforts on March 31. By the time the fire was fully contained, more than 11,000 acres of forest had burned. Smoke plumes traveled northward, and a low level inversion led to numerous reports of the smell of smoke in areas north of the fire region. Smoke plumes relating to this fire were reported in METAR observations from multiple large New York City area airports on the morning of the 31st.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 30, 11:30 AM EST, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ 1230 PM EDT Sat Mar 30 2019 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front continues to slowly approach from the west today, then it will move across our area late tonight and Sunday morning. High pressure then builds closer to the region, before shifting offshore on Tuesday. Coastal low pressure passes east of the Delaware and New Jersey coasts on Wednesday, then another low pressure system may affect our region by late next week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... Low pressure is working its way across the eastern Great Lakes region at midday. Meanwhile, a warm front is located to our north with low-level warm air advection occurring to its south. This warm air advection will continue this afternoon across our area under a southerly flow, allowing for much warmer temperatures. These temperatures however will be held down some along the coast due to the southerly wind off the chilly ocean (may be warmer at the Delaware Beaches due to a more parallel or just offshore breeze). The 12z Sterling, VA raob shows the warm layer of +16C near 950 mb. There appears to be a weak short wave near central Pennsylvania at midday and the earlier band of showers has been weakening. A brief shower or some sprinkles may scrape our far northwest zones this afternoon, however the bulk of the lift remains north and west of our region and therefore kept the forecast dry. The mid to high level clouds have thinned out quite a bit across much of the area, and that is resulting in more heating. Some additional clouds are expected to arrive from the southwest, however did allow for more sunshine. With the 1230 PM update, adjusted the hourly temperature, dew point and wind grids based on the latest observations and trends. As the boundary layer continues to warm, some deeper mixing is occurring and the wind/wind gusts were increased some. In addition, temperatures were raised some for many areas. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 AM SUNDAY/... Another mild night expected Saturday night with a continuation of the southerly flow across the area. A low level jet will develop and bring increased moisture too. Mostly cloudy skies are expected and some showers will enter the wrn areas first then spread eastwards toward dawn. Lows will only drop into the 50s in most areas with some 40s across the southern Poconos. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Summary: Beyond the cold front on Sunday, there are only two main concerns in the long term at this time. First is the potential coastal low for mid week. Secondly, another complex low pressure system could affect our region late next week. Details: Sunday: Front should slide off shore by mid day, ushering in dry and breezy conditions for the remainder of the day. With the timing of the cold front, highs will likely be reached very early in the day with temperatures steady or falling from late morning through the afternoon. Monday: Northwesterly winds behind the front should gradually diminish. Expect temperatures to be about 10 to 15 degrees below normal, with highs generally in the 40s (and upper 30s for the higher terrain of the southern Poconos). Tuesday through Wednesday: With the mid week potential coastal low, all of the major operational models are now depicting the track to be further south and east. This scenario would mean little, if any, impacts for our region (dry conditions and lighter winds as compared to a track closer to the coast). Given this trend, I did adjust PoPs down slightly. However, I am hesitant to lower PoPs too much at this point given the poor run-to-run consistency we've seen so far, and the fact that this is a split flow pattern in a transition season. None the less, if the trend continues, the Tuesday/Wednesday period will be dry, with a modest warming trend. Thursday through Friday: Next focus is on the low pressure system lifting out of the Plains late next week. If this low lifts into the western Great Lakes Region, there may be little in the way of an impact for our region. However, depending on how far south and how fast the mid and upper level trough digs, the surface low could have a track directly over our region. These two scenarios would lead to drastically different end results for our region. A track closer to our region means a higher chance for rain, but also a more dramatic warm up at the end of the week, followed by a cool weekend. && .AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... The following discussion is for KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG, KMIV, KACY and surrounding areas. This afternoon...VFR. South to southwest winds increasing to 10-15 knots with gusts to around 20 knots. Tonight...VFR ceilings, however some low level clouds and showers may reduce the ceilings to MVFR at times. Southwest surface winds mainly 10 knots or less, however south to southwest winds around 2000 feet to around 45 knots will result in low-level wind shear. Outlook... Sunday...We could start the day with MVFR conditions with rain showers along with a southwesterly wind around 10 kt. However, a cold front is expected to arrive, bringing a return to VFR conditions and an abrupt shift to northwesterly winds. Winds could gust up to 25 kt behind the front. Sunday night through Monday...VFR conditions are expected with gradually diminishing northwesterly winds. Tuesday and Wednesday...Mostly VFR conditions are expected. There is a chance for showers, primarily Tuesday night, which could lead to MVFR conditions. Light and variable winds becoming northwesterly around 10 kt on Wednesday. && .MARINE... For the 1230 PM update, delayed the increase in the winds given much warmer air advecting over the colder waters. In addition, while seas are building this is a little slower and thus adjusted the wave heights as well into this evening. Otherwise, freshening south winds expected on the waters today between high pressure that is well offshore and a slow moving front to the west. South winds will be 5 to 10 knots this morning and then 10 to 15 knots with G20-25 this afternoon. We will not change the timing of the SCA flag that was issued earlier. Fair weather today and this evening with a chc of showers after midnight. Seas on the ocean will build to 4-6 ft by tonight. Outlook... Sunday...SCA conditions are likely on the DE and NJ coastal waters for much if not all of the day on Sunday. There may be a brief lull in the wind gusts, though elevated seas are likely to continue. From late morning through mid afternoon, a cold front is expected to cross the area waters, bringing an abrupt shift to northwesterly winds. Sunday night...Northwesterly winds are likely to gust above 25 kt on both the coastal waters and the Delaware Bay. There is also a chance for gale force gusts. The highest risk for gales is on the Delaware Bay and in the vicinity of the mouth of the Bay. If gales develop, it would probably only be through the evening hours. The chance is too low for a gale watch at this time, but will include a mention in the Hazardous Weather Outlook. Monday...Northwesterly winds should gradually subside, dropping below 25 kt by mid day. Tuesday and Wednesday...winds and seas are likely to stay below SCA criteria. However, if a coastal low, currently forecast to stay well southeast of the region, tracks closer to the region, then there is a chance for elevated seas and wind gusts above 25 kt. && .PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. NJ...None. DE...None. MD...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM EDT Sunday for ANZ450>455. && Synopsis...Gorse/Johnson Near Term...Gorse Short Term...O'Hara Long Term...Johnson Aviation...Gorse/Johnson/O'Hara Marine...Gorse/Johnson/O'Hara
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ 334 AM EDT Sat Mar 30 2019 DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055- 060>062-070-071-101>106-310745- New Castle-Kent-Inland Sussex-Delaware Beaches-Cecil-Kent MD- Queen Annes-Talbot-Caroline-Sussex-Warren-Morris-Hunterdon-Somerset- Middlesex-Western Monmouth-Eastern Monmouth-Mercer-Salem-Gloucester- Camden-Northwestern Burlington-Ocean-Cumberland-Atlantic-Cape May- Atlantic Coastal Cape May-Coastal Atlantic-Coastal Ocean- Southeastern Burlington-Carbon-Monroe-Berks-Lehigh-Northampton- Delaware-Philadelphia-Western Chester-Eastern Chester- Western Montgomery-Eastern Montgomery-Upper Bucks-Lower Bucks- 334 AM EDT Sat Mar 30 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Delaware, northern Delaware, southern Delaware, northeast Maryland, central New Jersey, northern New Jersey, northwest New Jersey, southern New Jersey, east central Pennsylvania, northeast Pennsylvania and southeast Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to standard operating procedures. ANZ430-431-450>455-310745- Delaware Bay waters north of East Point NJ to Slaughter Beach DE- Delaware Bay waters south of East Point NJ to Slaughter Beach DE- Coastal waters from Sandy Hook to Manasquan Inlet NJ out 20 nm- Coastal waters from Manasquan Inlet to Little Egg Inlet NJ out 20 nm- Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out 20 nm- Coastal waters from Great Egg Inlet to Cape May NJ out 20 nm- Coastal waters from Cape May NJ to Cape Henlopen DE out 20 nm- Coastal waters from Cape Henlopen to Fenwick Island DE out 20 nm- 334 AM EDT Sat Mar 30 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters and Delaware Bay Waters. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. There is a chance for northwesterly gale force gusts on Sunday evening. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to standard operating procedures.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
Reference the episode narrative for a summary of events. The start time of the fire is approximated. Fire continued burning early on April 1, but was considered contained the prior evening.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Jersey in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in New Jersey, March 2019
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 808426.