Risk of Wildfires Rises in Florida in Wake of a Powerful Storm

(Bloomberg) -- Strong winds in the wake of a powerful Atlantic storm are driving up the threat of wildfires in Florida and battering ships off the U.S. East Coast.

A fire-weather watch is in effect Wednesday in parts of south Florida, including Miami and Palm Beach, as the storm intensifies off North Carolina. The National Weather Service may issue a more dire red-flag warning when the system grows more powerful.

“It is still going to get a little stronger,” said Marc Chenard, a senior branch forecaster at the U.S. Weather Prediction Center. “The biggest impacts are going to be marine impacts.”

Ships off the U.S. Mid-Atlantic coast could face winds of up to 69 miles (111 kilometers) per hour, with some reaching hurricane-strength of 74 mph, the weather service said. Waves could reach 30 feet (9 meters) or higher.

The storm will bring rain to New York on Thursday and to Boston on Friday. Northern New England may get snow, Chenard said.

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