Red flag warnings and fire weather alerts in effect right now
No active fire weather alerts in our cache right now. A Red Flag Warning means dangerous fire weather is expected, usually a mix of low humidity, wind and dry fuels.
What to do
General steps from official sources.
Get ready
Now
The NWS advises that you prepare, stay aware and act early. Follow orders from local officials if they tell you to leave.
Source: NWS: Wildfire Full guide →
What the fire weather alerts mean
A Red Flag Warning means dangerous fire weather is expected, usually a mix of low humidity, wind and dry fuels.
Fire Weather Watch
Issued to alert fire officials and firefighters to potentially dangerous fire weather conditions within the next 24 to 36 hours.
Red Flag Warning
Issued to alert fire officials and firefighters to potentially dangerous fire weather conditions within the next 12 to 24 hours.
For Virginia and Maryland, NWS Baltimore/Washington issues these when relative humidity is below 30 percent, sustained winds are 20 mph or more and 10-hour fuel moisture is below 8 percent. Other offices use their own criteria. Source: NWS Baltimore/Washington: Watch/Warning/Advisory Definitions. For the full comparison across alert types, see watch vs warning vs advisory.
Key steps from our guides
Each point links to the official page it comes from.
- Evacuate immediately if authorities tell you to. Learn your evacuation routes and where you will go before you need to. Ready.gov: Wildfires
- Create a fire-resistant zone free of leaves, debris and flammable materials for at least 30 feet from your home. Ready.gov: Wildfires
- If smoky and not ordered to evacuate, stay inside in a room closed off from outside air with a portable air cleaner, or go to a community building with lower smoke levels. An N95 mask can protect you from smoke inhalation. Ready.gov: Wildfires
- Do not return home until authorities say it is safe. Avoid hot ash, smoldering debris and live embers, and wear protective clothing when cleaning. Ready.gov: Wildfires
- AQI 0 to 50 is Good, and 51 to 100 is Moderate. Above 100 air quality is unhealthy: at first for sensitive groups, then for everyone as values get higher. AirNow: AQI Basics
- 101 to 150 is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, 151 to 200 is Unhealthy, 201 to 300 is Very Unhealthy and 301 and higher is Hazardous. AirNow: AQI Basics
- The AQI covers five major pollutants: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. AirNow: AQI Basics
Fire weather alerts by state
Open a state to see its current warnings, watches and advisories.
Common questions about fire weather alerts
What is a fire weather watch?
Issued to alert fire officials and firefighters to potentially dangerous fire weather conditions within the next 24 to 36 hours.
What is a red flag warning?
Issued to alert fire officials and firefighters to potentially dangerous fire weather conditions within the next 12 to 24 hours.
Do the numbers in the fire alert definitions apply everywhere?
For Virginia and Maryland, NWS Baltimore/Washington issues these when relative humidity is below 30 percent, sustained winds are 20 mph or more and 10-hour fuel moisture is below 8 percent. Other offices use their own criteria. Alert thresholds are set by each National Weather Service office, so the numbers can differ where you live. The text of the alert for your location is what applies.
Alert data comes from the National Weather Service and is refreshed every 15 minutes.