Update at 8:45 p.m. on 3/20/24: Due to the smoke, air quality in Arlington has reached moderately unhealthy levels, according to AirNow.gov.
Update at 5:30 p.m. on 3/20/24: A smoky haze has settled over Arlington amid multiple brush fires in parts of Northern Virginia and West Virginia. Small outdoor fires — mostly mulch fires — have also been reported in Arlington.
Multiple fires have erupted in western Virginia, fanned by high winds. You can smell the smoke in the air in the DC area.
See the hot spots in this satellite image.
Read more in our pm update ⬇️https://t.co/bJe1L1Sh2F pic.twitter.com/HrMkkdPUrp
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) March 20, 2024
5:34pm: There are numerous wildfires in the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding areas. If you are smelling smoke outdoors, those fires are the likely source.
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) March 20, 2024
Update at 2 p.m. on 3/20/24: The earlier Fire Weather Watch for Arlington and the region has been upgraded to a Red Flag Warning.
It’s in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday. More, below, from the National Weather Service.
URGENT – FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
155 PM EDT Wed Mar 20 2024…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY IN THE WASHINGTON AND BALTIMORE METROPOLITAN AREAS AS WELL AS PORTIONS OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND CENTRAL MARYLAND.
The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington has issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds and low humidity, which is in effect until 8 PM EDT this evening.
* WINDS…West 20 to 25 mph with gusts around 45 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…As low as 15 percent.
* IMPACTS…The combination of dry conditions, low humidity, and strong gusty winds may result in favorable conditions for the rapid spread of fires.
* FUEL MOISTURE…Less than 10 percent for 10 hour fuels.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Earlier: There’s an elevated fire danger in Northern Virginia and other parts of the D.C. region today and tomorrow.
Dry, breezy conditions mean that brush fires can spread quickly. While the danger of large forest fires in Arlington is low, smaller brush fires do occur on occasion.
The National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement for the fire danger Tuesday and a Fire Weather Watch for the region on Wednesday.