Elevated Fire Risk (3/19/25)

An elevated fire risk is in effect Wednesday, March 19, 2025 including the following jurisdictions.

MARYLAND: Garrett, Washington, Frederick, Carroll, northern Baltimore, Allegany, northwest Montgomery, northwest Howard, northwest Harford.
VIRGINIA: Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Frederick, Page, Warren, Clarke, Nelson, Albemarle, Greene, Madison, Rappahannock, northern Fauquier, Highland, Loudoun, northern/central Blue Ridge, northwest Prince William.
WEST VIRGINIA: Hampshire, Morgan, Berkeley, Jefferson, Hardy, Grant, Mineral, Pendleton.

Excerpted from the National Weather Service:

…ELEVATED THREAT FOR RAPID FIRE SPREAD THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON…

The combination of low humidity and gusty winds will result in a greater risk of adverse fire behavior and rapid fire spread through this afternoon.

Relative humidity values will drop 20 to 25 percent across most of the area this afternoon, with values of 15 to 20 percent in the Alleghenies. Southeast to south winds around 10-15 mph will gust between 20 to 25 mph. For the ridges, higher gusts up to 35 mph are expected. Temperatures this afternoon reach the 70s at most locations.

Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities on whether you may burn outdoors. If you do burn, use extreme caution since fires can increasingly escalate under these conditions.