Roanoke, VA – Fire officials are urging caution across much of Virginia today as strong winds and dry conditions increase the risk of wildfires through early evening.
According to the National Weather Service offices in Blacksburg, Wakefield, and Baltimore/Washington, winds from the southwest and west are expected to reach 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph in some areas, particularly along and west of the Blue Ridge. Combined with relative humidity dropping into the 20–30% range and increasingly dry ground fuels, the risk for rapid fire spread remains elevated through 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The affected regions stretch from the Shenandoah Valley and Southwest Virginia through Central and Southside Virginia, including Roanoke, Lynchburg, Richmond, Danville, and Charlottesville.
Officials advise residents to avoid outdoor burning, properly dispose of cigarette butts, and refrain from using equipment that could create sparks. Even small flames can spread quickly under these weather conditions.
The Virginia Department of Forestry reminds residents to follow local burn bans and check current fire safety guidelines at dof.virginia.gov.
Conditions are expected to improve overnight as humidity levels recover and winds decrease.
