Friday Weather Alerts Need Your Attention

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Wind Advisory and a Hazardous Weather Outlook for Friday afternoon through midnight.  The Fire Weather Warning is no longer active, however, they warned that high winds and low relative humidity may pose an enhanced threat for the spread of wildfires on Saturday.

This afternoons weather includes high winds which could bring down trees and overhead utility lines.  Any downed utility line should be considered "live" or "energized" and avoided.  If you see a downed line call 911.

There is a potential for afternoon thunderstorms as well.  Citizens and residents should take all precautions to stay safe.

Stay Informed - Stay Ready - Stay Safe.

Stay Informed by monitoring weather broadcasts on TV, radio and the Internet.
Stay Ready by having your home emergency kit prepared and ready to use.
Stay Safe by being informed and ready and making good common sense decisions about safety.

Follow PGFDPIO on Twitter for up to the minute weather alerts and breaking news.

FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

Wind Advisory

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
353 AM EST FRI FEB 24 2012

353 AM EST FRI FEB 24 2012

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT
EST TONIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS
ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT.

* TIMING...THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
  THIS EVENING.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST LATE THIS AFTERNOON 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP 55 MPH...
  BECOMING WEST THIS EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WIND GUSTS OVER 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED.
WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH
PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
513 AM EST FRI FEB 24 2012


513 AM EST FRI FEB 24 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MARYLAND PORTION OF THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY...TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER...AND ADJACENT COUNTIES IN
CENTRAL MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A GALE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WATERS THROUGH TONIGHT. A
STORM WARNING MAY BE NEEDED FOR PORTIONS OF THE WATERS LATE THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON. THUNDERSTORMS
WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND HAIL. THE
BEST CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE ALONG AND EAST OF THE
INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR.

A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR THE
OUTLOOK AREA. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST HAZARD MESSAGE /NPWLWX/
FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

A WIND ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED FOR PORTIONS OF THE AREA SATURDAY.

GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY MAY POSE AN ENHANCED THREAT
FOR THE SPREAD OF WILDFIRES SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON.