Fire News

Updated: September 2014

Fire Weather Planning Forecasts are issued twice a day. The first issuance is between 4 and 6 am and the second issuance is between 2 and 4 pm. Updates will be sent as needed.

Red Flag Criteria: Sustained winds 20 mph along with relative humidity less than 30 percent and fuel moisture less than or equal to 8 percent will spark a call to the Maryland State Agency regarding a Red Flag Warning or Fire Weather Watch. For West Virginia, sustained winds 20 mph along with relative humidity less than or equal to 25 percent and fuel moisture less than or equal to 8 percent will spark a call to the State Agency. For VA, a call will be made when sustained winds of 20 mph and relative humidity of less than 30 percent combines with fuel moistures less than 8 percent.

Special Weather Statements: Special weather statements will be issued in coordination with the state agencies when near red flag criteria are expected. Red Flag criteria is defined above.

If you see something missing that could be of use to the fire community please let us know and we’ll see that it’s taken care of.

There is a link on our fire web page for archived RAWS data.  This site contains all RAWS data that has ever been transmitted.  There are also some interesting graphs and wind roses you can make thru this page. 

Comments and questions are always welcome. Feel free to drop me a line. To the fire community – thank you for your continued diligence. “Protection of life and property” are words the National Weather Service lives by. Together we will continue to provide superior wildfire services to the people of the Mid Atlantic.

Andrew Woodcock

NWS Sterling

Fire Weather Program Leader

If you have any questions or comments, please contact your local NWS forecast office's Fire Weather program leader: