Raleigh, NC – Fire danger will be elevated across large portions of central and northwest North Carolina on Monday afternoon as the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for dangerous fire weather conditions from noon to 6 p.m. EST.
According to the National Weather Service in Raleigh, the warning is driven by very low relative humidity and strong west winds developing behind a passing cold front. Wind speeds are expected to reach 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph, while humidity levels could drop as low as 20 percent, creating ideal conditions for fires to start and spread rapidly.
The warning covers much of the Piedmont of central North Carolina, including Wake, Durham, Orange, Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance, Davidson, Randolph, Chatham, Franklin, Moore, Lee, Harnett, Anson, Richmond, Scotland, Hoke, Person, Granville, Vance, and Warren counties.
In a separate but overlapping alert, the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Virginia, has issued a Red Flag Warning for northwest Piedmont counties, including Stokes, Rockingham, and Caswell. Winds in those areas are expected to gust up to 35 mph, with humidity falling to around 25 percent.
Officials warn that any fire that develops could spread quickly and become difficult to control. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged, and residents are urged to avoid activities that could spark fires, including debris burning, equipment use that produces sparks, and careless disposal of cigarettes.
A Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions are occurring or imminent. Emergency officials stress that even small fires can escalate rapidly under these conditions.
Residents are encouraged to stay updated through weather.gov, local forecasts, and official emergency alerts throughout Monday afternoon.
