The Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas have been placed under a so-called Red Flag Warning for Saturday, as authorities say a combination of low humidity, moderate winds, and low temperatures has created a high risk of wildfires.
The National Weather Service says the warning will be in effect until 8 p.m. Saturday, and there is a likelihood that the warning will be re-issued Sunday as well. The Stafford County (Va.) Fire and Rescue Department has banned open-air burning, and citizens throughout the region are urged to be particularly vigilant and avoid starting fires if at all possible.
The area has experienced several days of unseasonably warm, dry weather. The current forecast from Storm4 meteorologist calls for temperatures to reach into the upper 60s on Saturday and Sunday, with winds gusting as high as 25 miles per hour on both days.
No rainfall is forecast for the D.C. area until Tuesday.
