Dry weather is contributing to an elevated brush fire risk
Oct 31, 2026
Parts of Franklin County are experiencing abnormally dry conditions following more than two weeks without rain across western Massachusetts.
The weather conditions we're experiencing right now
are helping brush fires start and spread.
22 News Storm Team Meteorologist Adam Stremko is working for you
with a closer look at the conditions behind fire danger.
Well, Claire, that's right. The dry conditions we're experiencing
and the time of year are all elevating our brush fire risk.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor continues
to show most of western Massachusetts is normal
right now with some abnormally dry conditions showing up
in parts of Franklin County.
But except for some wet weather earlier in the month,
we haven't seen much rain lately
and it's starting to get pretty dry.
Most of the month of October has been dry besides
the one significant rain we had earlier
in the month.
When we saw almost two inches of rain,
since then it's been completely dry.
And it's been dry for about the past 16 days.
The bright and dry weather we've been getting made it perfect
for viewing the beautiful foliage
that we saw across western Massachusetts this fall.
But the leaves falling off the trees now
and the dry conditions we're having can lead to problems.
And this is typically the time of year
that our threat for brush fires increases.
Not only just no rain, but also just the season of a lot of this.
The dead brush and sticks and everything,
it's not going to take a lot for an ember to catch on
to those dry leaves or that dried up grass.
And with the wind out there, especially this time
of year, it is a breezy time of year.
That's how you can get these brush fires to start and
very fast they can become uncontrollable.
Earlier this week, a wildfire in New York
State spread into parts of Berkshire County.
And back in November of 2024,
we had a number of brush fires break out across western Massachusetts
Due to dry and breezy conditions.