Greenville, SC – Dry air and gusty winds are combining to create dangerous fire conditions across parts of North Georgia and the western Carolinas through Wednesday evening.
According to the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg, a Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 8 p.m. for multiple counties in northeast Georgia, western Upstate South Carolina, and parts of the North Carolina mountains. Affected areas include Rabun, Franklin, Hart, Elbert, Buncombe, Macon, and Anderson counties, among others.
Forecasters report northwest winds ranging from 5 to 15 mph with gusts up to 35 mph, along with relative humidity values dropping as low as 15%. Fine fuel moisture is also expected to fall below 10%, making conditions ripe for any spark to ignite and spread rapidly.
Officials are urging residents to avoid outdoor burning, as any fire that starts may grow quickly out of control. Fire crews in the region remain on alert due to recent similar warnings and erratic wind patterns that pose added challenges.
Residents should secure loose outdoor materials, delay debris burning, and stay alert for further updates. The warning is expected to expire at 8 p.m., when humidity increases and winds diminish.
