Raleigh, NC – The National Weather Service has issued increased fire danger statements for most of North Carolina and parts of South Carolina on Wednesday, Oct. 22, warning that dry and breezy conditions could quickly turn small flames into fast-moving wildfires.
According to the NWS offices in Raleigh, Greenville-Spartanburg, and Newport/Morehead City, relative humidity values will drop to between 25% and 35%, while westerly winds of 15–25 mph, with occasional gusts up to 30 mph, are expected. The risk period runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Areas included in the alert span much of central and eastern North Carolina—from the Triangle and Sandhills to the coast and Outer Banks—as well as portions of western North Carolina and the Upstate region of South Carolina. Communities named in the advisory include Raleigh, Greensboro, Fayetteville, Charlotte, Asheville, Greenville, and Morehead City.
Officials strongly discourage any outdoor burning, including yard debris or agricultural fires. Prolonged dryness, gusty winds, and low humidity may allow fires to spread rapidly before containment crews can respond.
Residents are urged to check with local burn permit authorities before lighting any fires and to have suppression tools or water nearby if burning cannot be avoided.
The fire risk is expected to ease overnight as humidity levels recover and winds diminish.
