National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning until 8 p.m. this evening, replacing the previous Fire Weather Watch.
This severe weather warning covers Schuylkill, Lebanon, and Lancaster Counties, underlining the increasing threat of wildfires.
A Red Flag Warning indicates that the combination of strong winds, low humidity, and dry fuels is either currently present or imminent, resulting in highly conducive conditions for wildfires to ignite and spread rapidly.
Officials have warned that the region’s current weather conditions are critical and may lead to uncontrollable and challenging to contain fires.
Today’s warning is active from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. The forecast indicates northwest winds blowing at speeds of 10 to 15 mph, with gusts reaching up to 25 mph.
Relative humidity is predicted to drop as low as 25 percent, with temperatures in the mid-70s.