Increased fire danger continues, severe storms possible Wednesday

Nicole Madden,

AM Headlines:
  • Elevated Fire Danger
    • All of SC under a burn ban
    • Alexander, Burke, Henderson, McDowell, Polk Counties under local burns in NC
      • Relative Humidity levels will drop 20-25% this afternoon
  • Warming Up through Mid-Week
  • Strong to Severe Storms Wednesday
    • Damaging Wind = Biggest threat
    • Heavy rain could lead to localized flooding
  • Cool and Breezy Late Week
Discussion:
It won’t be as breezy today, but it will remain dry with relative humidity levels falling to 20-30% this afternoon. This keeps fire danger concerns elevated. All of South Carolina is under a burn ban, while local burn bans that include Alexander and Burke Counties in NC in are in effect. Burning is highly discouraged. Temperatures will warm from the upper 50s today to the mid to upper 60s tomorrow. Winds will shift south of the south, pulling in more moisture ahead of a strong cold front Tuesday evening. Heavy rain and storms will move through early Wednesday with a level 2 (out of 5) severe threat for areas east of I-77. Damaging wind is the biggest threat, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Behind the front it will remain breezy with temperatures dropping and the potential for mountain snow Thursday. Temps will climb back into the 70s by Saturday with more showers possible storms this weekend