Alert archive / North Carolina / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 1, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

April 21, 20216 counties in Georgia; 16 counties in North Carolina; 8 counties in South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this red flag warning at Apr 21, 2021, 3:45 AM EDT for 6 counties in Georgia; 16 counties in North Carolina; 8 counties in South Carolina. It took effect at Apr 21, 2021, 2:00 PM EDT. It was in force for 6 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 21, 2021, 3:45 AM EDT (07:45 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 21, 2021, 2:00 PM EDT
Expired
Apr 21, 2021, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
All 30 counties

Elbert County, GA, Franklin County, GA, Habersham County, GA, Hart County, GA, Rabun County, GA, Stephens County, GA, Alexander County, NC, Burke County, NC, Cabarrus County, NC, Caldwell County, NC, Catawba County, NC, Cleveland County, NC, Davie County, NC, Gaston County, NC, Iredell County, NC, Lincoln County, NC, McDowell County, NC, Mecklenburg County, NC, Polk County, NC, Rowan County, NC, Rutherford County, NC, Union County, NC, Abbeville County, SC, Anderson County, SC, Cherokee County, SC, Chester County, SC, Greenwood County, SC, Laurens County, SC, Union County, SC, York County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 45 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:49 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 00:00Z, 7.8 hours before the alert went out and 204 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 00:00Z on 2021-04-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 00:00Z on 2021-04-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 51 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2214 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
51 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
151 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

669 
WWUS82 KGSP 210745
RFWGSP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
345 AM EDT Wed Apr 21 2021

...DRY AND WINDY THIS AFTERNOON...

.In the wake of a cold front, gusty winds will develop today as a
dry continental airmass pushes into the region. Low relative
humidity in combination with these winds will make any fires
difficult to control.

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-501>510-
SCZ001>014-019-211600-
/O.UPG.KGSP.FW.A.0001.210421T1800Z-210422T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KGSP.FW.W.0001.210421T1800Z-210422T0000Z/
Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Alexander-Iredell-
Davie-Catawba-Rowan-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-
Union NC-Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains-
Greater Burke-McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell-
Rutherford Mountains-Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-
Eastern Polk-Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-
Greenville Mountains-Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-
Greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Cherokee-York-Anderson-Abbeville-
Laurens-Union SC-Chester-Greenwood-
345 AM EDT Wed Apr 21 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM
EDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR NORTHEAST
GEORGIA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT
OF NORTH CAROLINA...

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued
a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is
in effect from 2 PM this afternoon to 8 PM EDT this evening. The
Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...Oconee Mountains, Pickens Mountains, 
  Greenville Mountains, Greater Oconee, Greater Pickens, Greater 
  Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee, York, Rabun, Anderson, 
  Abbeville, Laurens, Union SC, Chester, Habersham, Stephens, 
  Greenwood, Franklin, Hart, Elbert, Alexander, Iredell, Davie, 
  Catawba, Rowan, Cleveland, Lincoln, Gaston, Mecklenburg, 
  Cabarrus, Union NC, Caldwell Mountains, Greater Caldwell, 
  Burke Mountains, Greater Burke, McDowell Mountains, Eastern 
  McDowell, Rutherford Mountains, Greater Rutherford, Polk 
  Mountains and Eastern Polk.

* TIMING...Wednesday afternoon and early evening.

* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 27 percent.

* FUEL MOISTURE...Already seasonably low, under 10 percent, and 
  likely to drop further with no wetting rain in the forecast 
  through Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Outdoor fires may easily grow out of control in 
  these conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected to develop. A combination of strong winds, low
relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme 
fire behavior.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
241 
WWUS82 KGSP 211434
RFWGSP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1034 AM EDT Wed Apr 21 2021

...DRY AND WINDY THIS AFTERNOON...

.In the wake of a cold front, gusty winds will develop today as a
dry continental airmass pushes into the region. Low relative
humidity in combination with these winds will make any fires
difficult to control.

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-501>510-
SCZ001>014-019-220000-
/O.CON.KGSP.FW.W.0001.210421T1800Z-210422T0000Z/
Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Alexander-Iredell-
Davie-Catawba-Rowan-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-
Union NC-Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains-
Greater Burke-McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell-
Rutherford Mountains-Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-
Eastern Polk-Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-
Greenville Mountains-Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-
Greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Cherokee-York-Anderson-Abbeville-
Laurens-Union SC-Chester-Greenwood-
1034 AM EDT Wed Apr 21 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
NORTHEAST GEORGIA...UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...AND THE FOOTHILLS AND
PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA...

* AFFECTED AREA...Oconee Mountains, Pickens Mountains, 
  Greenville Mountains, Greater Oconee, Greater Pickens, Greater 
  Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee, York, Rabun, Anderson, 
  Abbeville, Laurens, Union SC, Chester, Habersham, Stephens, 
  Greenwood, Franklin, Hart, Elbert, Alexander, Iredell, Davie, 
  Catawba, Rowan, Cleveland, Lincoln, Gaston, Mecklenburg, 
  Cabarrus, Union NC, Caldwell Mountains, Greater Caldwell, 
  Burke Mountains, Greater Burke, McDowell Mountains, Eastern 
  McDowell, Rutherford Mountains, Greater Rutherford, Polk 
  Mountains and Eastern Polk.

* TIMING...This afternoon and early evening.

* WINDS...Northwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 24 percent.

* FUEL MOISTURE...Already seasonably low, under 10 percent, and
  likely to drop further with no wetting rain in the forecast
  today.

* IMPACTS...Outdoor fires may easily grow out of control in 
  these conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected to develop. A combination of strong winds, low
relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to
extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$
075 
WWUS82 KGSP 211844
RFWGSP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
244 PM EDT Wed Apr 21 2021

...DRY AND WINDY THIS AFTERNOON...

.In the wake of a cold front, gusty winds will develop today as a
dry continental airmass pushes into the region. Low relative
humidity in combination with these winds will make any fires
difficult to control.

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-501>510-
SCZ001>014-019-220000-
/O.CON.KGSP.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210422T0000Z/
Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Alexander-Iredell-
Davie-Catawba-Rowan-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-
Union NC-Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains-
Greater Burke-McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell-
Rutherford Mountains-Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-
Eastern Polk-Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-
Greenville Mountains-Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-
Greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Cherokee-York-Anderson-Abbeville-
Laurens-Union SC-Chester-Greenwood-
244 PM EDT Wed Apr 21 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...AND THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT OF NORTH
CAROLINA...

* AFFECTED AREA...Oconee Mountains, Pickens Mountains, 
  Greenville Mountains, Greater Oconee, Greater Pickens, Greater 
  Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee, York, Rabun, Anderson, 
  Abbeville, Laurens, Union SC, Chester, Habersham, Stephens, 
  Greenwood, Franklin, Hart, Elbert, Alexander, Iredell, Davie, 
  Catawba, Rowan, Cleveland, Lincoln, Gaston, Mecklenburg, 
  Cabarrus, Union NC, Caldwell Mountains, Greater Caldwell, 
  Burke Mountains, Greater Burke, McDowell Mountains, Eastern 
  McDowell, Rutherford Mountains, Greater Rutherford, Polk 
  Mountains and Eastern Polk.

* TIMING...This afternoon and early evening.

* WINDS...Northwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 23 percent.

* FUEL MOISTURE...Already seasonably low, under 10 percent, and 
  likely to drop further with no wetting rain in the forecast 
  today.

* IMPACTS...Outdoor fires may easily grow out of control in 
  these conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected to develop. A combination of strong winds, low
relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to
extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 21, 3:40 AM EDTFreeze WarningGSPHabersham, Rabun29 hr
Apr 21, 2:44 PM EDTFrost AdvisoryGSPElbert, Franklin, Hart, Stephens17 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in North Carolina, 2021Red Flag Warnings in South Carolina, 2021Red Flag Warnings in Georgia, 2021Every red flag warning in 2021

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.