Baltimore, MD – Dry air and gusty winds are combining to create an elevated fire danger across central Maryland, the District of Columbia, northern Virginia, and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia through 7 p.m. Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Service in Baltimore and Washington, the region has experienced little to no rainfall over the past week, especially north and west of the I-95 corridor. Relative humidity is expected to fall to 20-25 percent, paired with sustained westerly winds of 10 to 15 mph and gusts reaching 25 mph.
These conditions significantly increase the potential for fires to ignite and spread rapidly. The advisory spans areas including Baltimore, Frederick, Hagerstown, Columbia, and the Washington, D.C. metro. It also includes parts of northern Virginia such as Winchester and Arlington, along with counties in West Virginia like Jefferson and Berkeley.
Residents are urged to check local regulations before conducting any outdoor burning. Officials strongly advise against burning during this window, emphasizing that fires could become unmanageable quickly due to the dry and breezy environment.
Precautionary actions include safely disposing of cigarettes, avoiding open flames, and monitoring any outdoor equipment that could spark. Conditions are expected to improve after 7 p.m. Tuesday as winds decrease and humidity rises.
