STERLING VA: (ROCKTOWN NOW) – Residents across several counties in Virginia and West Virginia are facing an elevated threat of rapid fire spread until 8 PM this evening. The affected areas include Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Frederick, Page, Warren, Clarke, Nelson, Albemarle, Greene, Madison, Rappahannock, Orange, Culpeper, Northern Fauquier, Southern Fauquier, Western Loudoun, Northern Virginia Blue Ridge, Central Virginia Blue Ridge, Berkeley, and Jefferson.
Cities such as Staunton, Waynesboro, Harrisonburg, Winchester, Charlottesville, Culpeper, and Martinsburg are among those at risk.
Key Factors Contributing to Fire Risk:
- Dry Conditions: Recent dry weather has reduced 10-hour fuel moisture to between 8 and 12 percent.
- Low Humidity: Relative humidity levels are expected to drop to between 20 and 35 percent.
- Strong Winds: Westerly winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts reaching 30 to 40 mph, will further exacerbate the fire spread risk.
The threat is particularly high in the Shenandoah Valley, the northern and central Virginia Blue Ridge, the north-central Virginia Piedmont near and west of Highway 15, and the eastern West Virginia panhandle near and east of Interstate 81…