Low humidities and gusty winds continue to raise the risk of wildfires this week.
The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement this morning reminding Marylanders from Baltimore south that "Open burning of any type is considered very hazardous this time of year. Accidental escaped debris burns are the number one cause of wildfires."
Forecasters predict relative humidities between 25 and 30 percent this afternoon across much of the region The forecast also calls for south winds at 10 to 15 mph and gusts to 25.
The good news is that skies will continue to be sunny, with temperatures Wednesday rising into the mid-50s at BWI-Marshall Airport. We'll have starry skies again tonight, and can look forward to even milder weather on Thursday and Friday. Temperatures Thursday at BWI are forecast to reach 60 degrees, rising to the upper 60s by Friday. Some locations may even break through to the 70s. That's better than 25 degrees above the long-term averages for this time of year.
They're still calling for a cool-down after a cold front pushes through late on Friday. Daytime highs through the long holiday weekend will stick in the upper 40s to near 50 degrees. There is also a 30 percent chance for some rain on Monday afternoon. After four-and-a-half months of below-average precipitation, we can use it.
(AP PHOTO: Cumberland Times-News, Mark Harris, 2001)