MD Weather: Fire Risk Due To Dry, Windy Conditions, NWS Says

MARYLAND — The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement for most of Maryland over concerns that dry conditions and gusty winds could allow fires to quickly spread on Thursday.

Even after Tuesday's rain, much of Maryland is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, with parts of two counties classified as in a moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

With low relative humidity levels, gusty winds and the dry conditions, Maryland was placed under a special weather statement on Thursday by the National Weather Service, which warned that conditions are ripe to spread fire.

Minimum relative humidity values will drop to between 20 and 25 percent across much of Maryland Thursday afternoon, with temperatures expected to reach 60 degrees. These conditions pose an enhanced threat for the spread of wildfires, according to the NWS.

Northwest winds will gust frequently between 20 and 30 mph, while the strongest winds will coincide with the lowest relative humidity during the mid- to late afternoon hours, the NWS said.

"The combination of low fuel moisture, low relative humidity, and gusty winds will enhance the threat for the spread of wildfires," the weather service said. "Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged."

Counties included in the special weather statement are: Carroll, Baltimore, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Charles, St. Marys, Calvert, Allegany, Montgomery, Howard and Harford.

Cities included are: Baltimore, Hagerstown, Frederick, Eldersburg, Westminster, Reisterstown, Cockeysville, Bowie, College Park, Greenbelt, Laurel, Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Severn, Severna Park, Arnold, Odenton, St. Charles, Waldorf, Lexington Park, California, Chesapeake Beach, Lusby, Germantown, Damascus, Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Columbia, Ellicott City, Jarrettsville, and Aberdeen.

Here's the NWS forecast for Maryland for the next few days:

Thursday Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 61. Northwest wind 16 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. Northwest wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Northwest wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44. North wind 5 to 7 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Northwest wind around 7 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Sunday: A chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday Night: Showers likely, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 60%.