The National Weather Service has once again issued a fire weather statement beginning at Friday 9 a.m. and a fire weather watch into Saturday, as the conditions are expected to be ripe for rapid fire spread. The high fire danger could be the highest the city has ever seen heading into the weekend.

There was a bit of a lull in the threat for Thursday as there were plenty of clouds and a much lighter wind. That changes again on Friday as the direct sunshine and blustery conditions return, two of the ingredients that have contributed to brush and wildfires earlier this week. The other two ingredients remain in place, which are the low humidity and dry ground.

This "flash drought" has also gotten worse, with the latest drought monitor update showing a severe drought for the entire borough. This is the first time the Bronx has been under a severe drought since January 2017. This flash drought has brought the rainfall deficit to nearly nine inches, as there has only been 1.7 inches of rain since Sept. 1, when the normal amount is 10.3 inches.

Gusts will reach 25 mph at times Friday afternoon, and 30 to 35 mph at times Saturday. The wind relaxes a bit on Sunday but returns again for Monday. A weak storm passes just to the north Sunday night and at worst drops an isolated shower overnight. The next rain chance does not come until at least next Thursday with a potential major pattern change.