Red Flag Warning 4, NWS Blacksburg, VA

776 
WWUS81 KRNK 261532
RFWRNK

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
1132 AM EDT Wed Mar 26 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...

.Gusty winds combined with low relative humidity, sunny skies and
dry fuels will result in a high chance for adverse and dangerous
fire behavior today.

VAZ022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-262345-
/O.CON.KRNK.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-250327T0000Z/
Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-
Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-
Charlotte-
1132 AM EDT Wed Mar 26 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT
OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Virginia, Fire Weather Zone 022 Roanoke, 
  Fire Weather Zone 023 Botetourt, Fire Weather Zone 024 
  Rockbridge, Fire Weather Zone 032 Patrick, Fire Weather Zone 
  033 Franklin, Fire Weather Zone 034 Bedford, Fire Weather Zone 
  035 Amherst, Fire Weather Zone 043 Henry, Fire Weather Zone 
  044 Pittsylvania, Fire Weather Zone 045 Campbell, Fire Weather 
  Zone 046 Appomattox, Fire Weather Zone 047 Buckingham, Fire 
  Weather Zone 058 Halifax and Fire Weather Zone 059 Charlotte.

* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 17 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

For more information from NOAA/National Weather Service visit
http://www.weather.gov/rnk/fire

622 
WWUS81 KRNK 262357
RFWRNK

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
757 PM EDT Wed Mar 26 2025


VAZ022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-270100-
/O.EXP.KRNK.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-250327T0000Z/
Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-
Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-
Charlotte-
757 PM EDT Wed Mar 26 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE
FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...


Temperatures are falling after sunset, and relative humidities are
increasing. Some moderately gusty winds will continue for the next
couple hours, but will calm overnight.

$$

For more information from NOAA/National Weather Service visit
http://www.weather.gov/rnk/fire

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
118 AM EDT Wed Mar 26 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
The mountains will see light rain/snow showers tonight into
Wednesday morning. Skies clear Wednesday as high pressure keeps
quiet weather in place through the rest of the week. The
southerly flow will cause well-above average temperatures for
the end of the week into the weekend. The next significant
chance of showers and thunderstorms arrives for Sunday and
Monday of next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/...
As of 840 PM EDT Tuesday...

Key messages:

   -Enhanced Fire Danger on Wednesday for southern Virginia
    and northern North Carolina

Widely scattered rain showers mixed with some snow above 3000
feet will taper off by midnight as the moisture pushes off to
the east. A second wave of energy will move into the western
facing mountains of WV/VA overnight, with light rain/snow
showers possible through daybreak. Little to no snow
accumulation is expected, though Western Greenbrier County may
see a dusting to around 0.5". The fire danger risk is increasing
east of the Blue Ridge tomorrow, as RH values are expected to be
at or below 20%, along with breezy and dry conditions.

Little changes were made to the precious forecast, with the
only changes being dewpoints in the piedmont were raised
slightly through midnight, and cloud cover was reduced across
the NC/VA mountains as dry air cleared out skies this evening.
Otherwise, the previous forecast remains on track.

Previous Discussion...

As of 110 PM EDT Tuesday...

Two short waves tracking through the long wave trough over the
eastern United States tonight and Wednesday. The first was
earlier on Tuesday, while the next will reach the area on
Wednesday. The entire long wave trough axis moves offshore by
the end of the day Wednesday.

Bufkit forecast soundings showed deep mixing on Wednesday. With
a lot of sunshine and a gusty WNW wind went on the warm side of
guidance for maximum temperatures.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
As of 100 PM EDT Tuesday...

Key Messages:

1) Confidence is high for dry weather during Wednesday night into
Thursday.

2) A warm front may offer a chance of light showers for the
mountains on Friday.

The northwest wind should fade by Wednesday night as high pressure
builds across the Mid Atlantic. Relative humidities will be quite
low on Thursday due to a dry air mass accompanying high pressure.
Models have been trending more aggressive with a warm front
approaching the Appalachian Mountains for Thursday night. Light rain
showers could reach areas west of the Blue Ridge by early Friday
morning. Drier air to the east will likely prevent most of this
moisture from reaching the Piedmont. A southwest flow at the surface
and aloft along with a building upper level ridge should boost
temperatures above normal by Friday afternoon with highs in the 60s
and 70s. Rain chances should diminish on Friday night as the warm
front lifts further north.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 100 PM EDT Tuesday...

Key Messages:

1) Confidence is high for temperatures running well above normal
throughout the weekend.

2) Rain chances should increase by Sunday and Monday before
diminishing on Tuesday.

With the Mid Atlantic firmly entrenched in the warm sector by
Saturday due to high pressure offshore and an upper level ridge
overhead, temperatures could surge well above normal despite some
cloud cover. As a cold front organizes across the Plains, a line of
prefrontal showers may arrive around Sunday morning. Some models
hint at weak instability available during late Sunday for a chance
of thunderstorms west of the Blue Ridge. The cold front should reach
the Appalachian Mountains towards Monday to bring another round of
showers and possibly a couple thunderstorms. A gusty west wind may
follow in the wake of the cold front by late Monday, and the chance
of showers might linger into Tuesday depending on how quickly the
moisture is shoved eastward by the approaching drier air.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 115 AM EDT Wednesday...

A quick moving shortwave currently across west central West
Virginia is progressing east tonight. This shortwave will bring
rain showers to LWB, with a few vicinity showers to BLF over the
next 6-8 hours. This shortwave will also bring MVFR restrictions
to LWB, with these restrictions possibly extending to BLF before
12Z. As the shortwave treks east overnight, and into the
morning, much of the rainfall is expected to dry up as it makes
it over the western facing slopes. This will lead to some clouds
through the morning hours for BCB and ROA, but no restrictions
are expected. VFR conditions look to prevail at BCB, ROA, LYH,
and DAN through the TAF period.

In the wake of the shortwave, gusty westerly/northwesterly winds
will pick up through the mid morning and afternoon hours to
around 20 to 25 knots at all terminals. These gusty winds look
to diminish rather quickly after 00Z as high pressure settles
into the region, and winds start to transition to a
westerly/southwesterly flow.

.EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...

VFR conditions will return across all terminals beginning
Wednesday night as high pressure will be in control. The
mountains may see a brief rain shower or two on Friday, which
could cause a brief reduction in flight conditions, but
otherwise, VFR will likely continue through the end of the week
and into the weekend. By Sunday morning, rain showers move back
into the area, with sub-VFR flight conditions possible for all
terminals until the rain pushes through by Sunday evening, with
VFR conditions likely to return area-wide.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
As of 840 PM EDT Tuesday...

   Enhanced Fire Danger on Wednesday for southern Virginia
   and northern North Carolina

Deep mixing and drying are expected in the foothills and
piedmont Wednesday. Combined with low RH and gusty wind the
threat of fire spread will be high on Wednesday.

&&

.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...None.
NC...None.
WV...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...AMS/JCB
NEAR TERM...AMS/JCB
SHORT TERM...PW
LONG TERM...PW
AVIATION...EB/JCB
FIRE WEATHER...AMS

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
341 PM EDT Tue Mar 25 2025

NCZ001>006-018>020-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-
WVZ042>044-507-508-261945-
Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes-
Yadkin-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-
Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-
Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-
Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte-Mercer-Summers-Monroe-
Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier-
341 PM EDT Tue Mar 25 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central North Carolina,
northwest North Carolina, central Virginia, south central Virginia,
southwest Virginia, west central Virginia and southeast West
Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.