Increased fire threat today
With strong sunshine, a scarcity of rain recently and very dry air today, the National Weather Service has posted a Special Weather Statement noting increased risks of brush fires today.
The winds are not too active, so they have not yet issued a Red Flag Warning, as they have to our north and east. But it would be wise to be careful with fires today, and to crush those butts in the ashtray.
The humidity here on the WeatherDeck this afternoon has dropped from 63 percent at 7 a.m. to 22 percent just after noon. That's desert-dry. And there is lots of tinder around after weeks without significant rainfall.
Here's the statement on this afternoon's fire hazard:
A DRY COLD FRONT MOVED THROUGH THE AREA THIS MORNING...AND MUCH
DRIER AIR IS CURRENTLY MOVING INTO MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA. WINDS HAVE
TURNED TO THE NORTH AND ARE INCREASING...WITH GUSTS TO 20 TO 25
MPH POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE DAY. RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL
DROP TO AROUND 20 TO 25 PERCENT LATER THIS MORNING AND THIS WILL
FURTHER LOWER THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF FINE FUELS SUCH AS
GRASSES...PINE NEEDLES AND TWIGS.
THE COMBINATION OF LOWER FUEL MOISTURES...LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY...AND WINDY CONDITIONS...WILL POSE AN INCREASED FIRE
THREAT TODAY THROUGH THE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS.
RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE CAUTION HANDLING ANY POTENTIAL
IGNITION SOURCE...INCLUDING MACHINERY... CIGARETTES...AND MATCHES.
BE SURE TO PROPERLY DISCARD ALL SMOKING MATERIALS. ANY DRY GRASSES
AND TREE LITTER THAT IGNITE WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SPREAD
QUICKLY.
