There's also a high wind watch for Friday morning and afternoon.
The National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia has issued a Fire Weather Watch for Friday afternoon, and a High Wind Watch for Friday morning through the afternoon. The Two Watches cover parts of Maryland, Northern Virginia and the West Virginia Panhandle. They include Frederick, Washington and Carroll Counties in Maryland, Loudon County, Virginia, and Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan Counties in West Virginia. Montgomery and Howard Counties are only under the Fire Weather Watch.
The agency says a Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire conditions are expected to occur, including low humidities and high winds. On Friday, the humidity is expected to range from 25% to 30%, and winds are forecast to be between 25 to 30-miles per hour, with gusts up to 50-miles per hour. Fuel moisture will be from 5% to 7%.
Under a High Wind Watch, the Weather Service says there's a potential for a hazardous high wind event. Wind gusts of 58-miles per hour or stronger could occur. The most powerful winds are forecast for Friday afternoon, at 20 to 30-miles per hour, with gusts up to 60-miles by late afternoon.
