The National Weather Service expects strong winds combined with low humidity to create an elevated fire risk.
Patch Staff
|Updated Wed, Mar 26, 2025 at 2:00 pm ET
VIRGINIA — The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning Wednesday in Northern Virginia due to conditions creating an increased fire risk.
The red flag warning runs until 7 p.m. Forecasters say the dry and gusty conditions are arriving Wednesday following a cold front.
Humidity is in a low level between 15 and 30 percent, while winds between 15 and 20 mph and gusts between 25 and 35 mph are forecast. Conditions are already dry throughout the region due to 0.05 inches of rainfall or less recently.
According to the National Weather Service, any fires could quickly spread. Forecasters recommend against outdoor burning during the red flag warning. Virginia has a burn ban in effect before 4 p.m. from Feb. 15 to April 30 each year. Residents should check with their localities for additional local restrictions.
Localities under the red flag warning are Fairfax County, Arlington County, Falls Church, Alexandria, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, northwest, central and southeast Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park. A special weather statement on an increased threat of rapid fire threat applies to the greater region, including Stafford, Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg.
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The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang expects winds to die down in the evening and overnight. Temperatures will drop to the 30s overnight and return to highs of 50s or low 60s on Thursday. Scattered windy conditions could return Thursday.
Friday will usher in warmer weather, albeit with a chance of precipitation. The Capital Weather Gang expects temperatures in the high 60s. Then, temperatures will climb to the 70s near 80 on Saturday. Temperatures could remain in the 70s on Sunday, but forecasters are monitoring a chance of rain or thunderstorms.
Here's the forecast ahead from the National Weather Service:
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Northwest wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. At night, mostly clear, with a low around 32. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. West wind 3 to 7 mph. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 40 and light southwest wind.
Friday: A chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 68. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. At night, a chance of showers, mainly before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. The chance of precipitation at night is 30 percent.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. At night, a chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
Sunday: A chance of showers and partly sunny, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. At night, a chance of showers before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent at night.