Knoxville, TN – Gusty winds and low humidity have prompted fire weather warnings across Eastern Tennessee and bordering North Carolina counties through Sunday evening.
According to the National Weather Service in Morristown, a Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 11 p.m. Saturday, with another warning set from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. The affected areas include the Smoky Mountains and adjacent foothills in Tennessee, along with Cherokee and Clay counties in western North Carolina.
Forecasters expect southerly winds of 20 to 30 mph on Sunday, with gusts reaching up to 45 mph. Combined with low relative humidity levels in the 20%–30% range, the risk for rapid wildfire spread remains high.
The warning covers portions of Johnson, Cocke, Greene, Unicoi, Carter, Blount, Sevier, Monroe, and Polk counties in Tennessee.
Residents are strongly advised to avoid outdoor burning and to secure any potential fire sources. The warm, dry, and breezy conditions are expected to contribute to extreme fire behavior if ignitions occur.
Officials recommend monitoring local alerts and having a fire safety plan in place. Conditions are expected to improve after 9 p.m. Sunday, but residents should remain cautious through the duration of the warning.
