URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
353 AM EDT Thu Mar 15 2018
Augusta-Rockingham-Western Highland-Eastern Highland-
Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-Central Virginia Blue Ridge-
Western Pendleton-Eastern Pendleton-
Including the cities of Staunton, Waynesboro, Stuarts Draft,
Harrisonburg, Hightown, Monterey, Big Meadows, Wintergreen,
Riverton, Brandywine, Franklin, Oak Flat, Ruddle, and Sugar Grove
353 AM EDT Thu Mar 15 2018
…WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING…
* TIMING…Strong winds will continue through today across the
higher elevations above 2000 feet.
* WINDS…West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
* IMPACTS…Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Wind Advisory means that winds of 45 to 55 mph are expected.
Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high
profile vehicles.
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
403 AM EDT Thu Mar 15 2018
…Strong Winds Expected Today…
.A pressure gradient between a low off the New England coast and
high tracking along the Gulf Coast states will bring strong gusty
winds to the Blue Ridge mountains and counties just west today.
Ashe-Alleghany NC-Watauga-Smyth-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-
Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-
Rockbridge-
Including the cities of West Jefferson, Sparta, Boone, Marion,
Wytheville, Radford, Pulaski, Blacksburg, Independence, Whitetop,
Troutdale, Volney, Galax, Floyd, New Castle, Clifton Forge,
Covington, Hot Springs, Roanoke, Salem, Fincastle, Lexington,
and Buena Vista
403 AM EDT Thu Mar 15 2018
…WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING…
* Locations…Along either side of the Blue Ridge from the High
Country of North Carolina to the Alleghany Highlands of
Virginia.
* Hazards…Strong wind gusts.
* Winds…West 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
* Timing…Today.
* Impacts…Potential for downed trees and powerlines. Winds this
strong can also make travel difficult, especially for high
profile vehicles.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Wind Advisory is issued when sustained winds are forecast to be
31 to 39 MPH or gusts will range between 46 and 57 MPH. Winds of
these magnitudes may cause minor property damage without extra
precautions. Motorists in high profile vehicles should use extra
caution until the winds subside.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
414 AM EDT Thu Mar 15 2018
District of Columbia-Prince Georges-Charles-St. Marys-
Northwest Montgomery-Central and Southeast Montgomery-Augusta-
Rockingham-Shenandoah-Frederick VA-Page-Warren-Clarke-Nelson-
Albemarle-Greene-Madison-Rappahannock-Orange-Culpeper-
Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-Fairfax-
Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-Stafford-Spotsylvania-
King George-Northern Fauquier-Southern Fauquier-Western Loudoun-
Eastern Loudoun-Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-
Central Virginia Blue Ridge-Hampshire-Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson-
Hardy-Eastern Grant-Eastern Mineral-
Including the cities of Washington, Bowie, Suitland-Silver Hill,
Clinton, College Park, Greenbelt, Laurel, Camp Springs,
St. Charles, Waldorf, Lexington Park, California, Germantown,
Damascus, Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring,
Staunton, Waynesboro, Stuarts Draft, Harrisonburg, Strasburg,
Woodstock, Mount Jackson, New Market, Winchester, Luray,
Shenandoah, Stanley, Front Royal, Berryville, Lovingston,
Charlottesville, Stanardsville, Madison, Orange, Gordonsville,
Culpeper, Dale City, Manassas, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Montclair,
Reston, Herndon, Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, McLean,
Franconia, Arlington, Alexandria, Falmouth, Fredericksburg,
Dahlgren, Warrenton, Turnbull, Purcellville, Leesburg, Ashburn,
Sterling, Big Meadows, Wintergreen, Romney, Paw Paw, Martinsburg,
Charles Town, Shepherdstown, Moorefield, Petersburg, Antioch,
Keyser, New Creek, Ridgeville, Russelldale, Headsville,
and Fort Ashby
414 AM EDT Thu Mar 15 2018
…Enhanced threat for the spread of wild fires today…
Minimum relative humidity will drop to near 20 to 30 percent late
this morning and afternoon across much of northern and central
Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, portions of southern and central
Maryland and portions eastern West Virginia. Sustained west to
northwest winds around 15 to 25 mph with frequent gusts of 30 to
35 mph are also expected during this time. The combination of
gusty winds…low relative humidity and low fuel moisture will
enhance the threat for the spread of wildfires late this morning
through this afternoon.
Residents are urged to exercise caution handling any potential
ignition source…including machinery… cigarettes…and matches.
Be sure to properly discard all smoking materials. Any dry grasses
and tree litter that ignite will have the potential to spread
quickly.
