…RED FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY TODAY…
.Very dry air will linger across the area today, while winds
will increase from the west and southwest ahead of a mostly dry
cold front. Sustained winds of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts of 25
to 35 mph are expected across much of the area this afternoon.
Winds will shift to the northwest behind the front this evening,
although speeds will also begin to diminish. With 10-hour fuel
moisture already less than 10 across much of the area, conditions
will be favorable for the rapid spread of wildfire across much
of the foothills and portions of the mountains of the Carolinas
and northeast Georgia.
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued
a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is
in effect until 9 PM EDT this evening.
* AFFECTED AREA…Cherokee, Rabun, Anderson, Habersham,
Stephens, Franklin, Hart, Buncombe, Catawba, Transylvania,
Henderson, Cleveland, Lincoln, Gaston, Oconee Mountains,
Pickens Mountains, Greenville Mountains, Greater Oconee,
Greater Pickens, Central Greenville, Southern Greenville,
Northern Spartanburg, Southern Spartanburg, Greater Caldwell,
Burke Mountains, Greater Burke, McDowell Mountains, Eastern
McDowell, Rutherford Mountains, Greater Rutherford, Polk
Mountains and Eastern Polk.
* TIMING…Until 9 PM EDT this evening.
* WINDS…Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
* HUMIDITY…Minimum of 20 to 25 percent.
* FUEL MOISTURE…10-hour fuel moisture is already less than 10
percent across much of the warning area late this morning.
* IMPACTS…Any fire that develops will catch and spread
quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.