Dry fuels, gusty northwest winds and low humidity will raise the risk of fire spread across much of the Hudson Valley on Oct. 30, according to the National Weather Service in Albany.
The affected area includes Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, Washington, Greene and Columbia counties, as well as Ulster and Dutchess counties.
Northwest wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph and minimum relative humidity of 40 to 50 percent are expected. The weather service said the strongest winds and lowest humidity are forecast for this afternoon.
The agency urged extra caution when handling potential ignition sources, including machinery and matches, and advised properly extinguishing or disposing of cigarette butts.