Fire Warning Issued In MD, Drought Raises Risk Of Blaze

MARYLAND — Much of Maryland has a red flag fire warning Friday, as the persisting drought leaves timber dry and at risk to burn.

The National Weather Service's red flag warning lasts from noon to 6 p.m. Friday and covers portions of central and northern Maryland, specifically all or parts of Carroll, Baltimore, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Allegany, Montgomery, Howard and Harford counties.

The warning also covers northern Virginia and the eastern portions of West Virginia.

Westward winds of 10 to 15 mph could gust up to 30 mph. The humidity could dip to 20%. Fire fuel moisture is less than 10%.

About 83% of Maryland's land is in a drought, the U.S. Drought Monitor said. Around 3.1 million Marylanders live in areas currently in the drought.

The drought is moderate in central Maryland, severe in southern Maryland and on the Eastern Shore and extreme in far western Maryland. There's no drought in Howard County and on the edges of the neighboring jurisdictions. Those areas are just abnormally dry.

Most of the state hasn't seen any rain in over a week. All of Maryland has seen less than 25% of its normal rainfall in the last 30 days.

Most Maryland streams are flowing below normal conditions. Surface soil is drier than normal in much of the state.

The drought is expected to persist through this month but end this season.

"The combination of dry conditions, low humidity, and strong gusty winds may result in favorable conditions for the rapid spread of fires," the NWS said in its warning.

Here's the seven-day NWS forecast at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport:

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. West wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 39. Northwest wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 57. North wind 5 to 9 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Light and variable wind.

Sunday: A chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night: Showers likely, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 62.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 60. Chance of precipitation is 40%.