Dry surface conditions and gusty southwest winds this afternoon
will continue pose an increased threat for fire danger conditions
for East Tennessee and southwest North Carolina.
The risk for fire danger conditions will continue on Saturday.
Relative humidity will drop to 25 to 35 percent Saturday
afternoon, with wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph expected. Winds
in the higher elevations may gust between 30 and 40 mph tonight
and Saturday.
Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities on whether
you may burn outdoors today. If you do burn, use extreme caution
since fires can increasingly escalate under these conditions.