High Wind and Red Flag Warnings in Effect This Morning for Prince George's County

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a High Wind Warning starting at 5 a.m. on Saturday morning that will expire at 9 p.m. in the evening. Northwest winds are expected to be between 20 and 30 mph, with gusts that could reach up to 60 mph. The strongest winds are expected between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

At 9 a.m., a Red Flag Warning will go into effect, with both warnings ending at 9 p.m. Saturday.

According to the NWS, a Red Flag Warning is issued when there is potential for explosive fire growth. In this case, it's the combination of the expected strong wind, humidity dropping between to between 15 and 25 percent and warmer temperatures that caused the concern.

One easy but major thing that people can do to prepare—aside from having the essentials and an emergency kit—is to secure loose belongings on your property or bring them inside.

People should be cautious of downed trees and branches, and minimally have a flashlight, a fully charged cell phone and a radio on hand.