Red Flag Warning 3, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

794 
WWUS82 KGSP 190605
RFWGSP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
205 AM EDT Sun Apr 19 2026

GAZ010-017-200000-
/O.CON.KGSP.FW.W.0003.260419T1600Z-260420T0000Z/
Rabun-Habersham-
205 AM EDT Sun Apr 19 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM EDT TODAY FOR 
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHEAST 
GEORGIA...

* AFFECTED AREA...Rabun and Habersham Counties in northeast 
  Georgia.

* TIMING...From noon today to 8 PM EDT this evening.

* WINDS...Northwest 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* HUMIDITY...20 to 25 percent.

* FUEL MOISTURE...Likely falling below 8 percent, possibly as 
  low as 6 percent in the warmest part of the afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread 
  quickly. 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.

&&

$$

AR

501 
WWUS82 KGSP 191702
RFWGSP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
102 PM EDT Sun Apr 19 2026

GAZ010-017-200000-
/O.CON.KGSP.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260420T0000Z/
Rabun-Habersham-
102 PM EDT Sun Apr 19 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHEAST
GEORGIA...

* AFFECTED AREA...Rabun and Habersham Counties.

* TIMING...Until 8 PM EDT this evening.

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

* HUMIDITY...20 to 25 percent.

* FUEL MOISTURE...10 percent, likely falling to 8 percent or lower 
  by late afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. 
  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.

&&

$$
JRK

001 
WWUS82 KGSP 191857
RFWGSP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
257 PM EDT Sun Apr 19 2026

GAZ010-017-200000-
/O.NEW.KGSP.FW.A.0003.260420T1600Z-260421T0000Z/
/O.CON.KGSP.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260420T0000Z/
Rabun-Habersham-
257 PM EDT Sun Apr 19 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHEAST
GEORGIA...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR 
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHEAST
GEORGIA...

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued
a Fire Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is
in effect from Monday afternoon through Monday evening.

* AFFECTED AREA...Rabun and Habersham Counties.

* TIMING...For the Red Flag Warning, until 8 PM EDT this 
  evening. For the Fire Weather Watch, from Monday afternoon 
  through Monday evening.

* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts of 30 mph each 
  afternoon.

* HUMIDITY...Minimum relative humidity of 20 to 30 percent each 
  afternoon.

* FUEL MOISTURE...Likely falling to 8 percent or lower each
  afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread 
  quickly. 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.

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.

&&

$$

GAZ018-026-028-029-200000-
/O.NEW.KGSP.FW.A.0003.260420T1600Z-260421T0000Z/
Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-
257 PM EDT Sun Apr 19 2026

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR 
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued
a Fire Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is
in effect from Monday afternoon through Monday evening.

* AFFECTED AREA...Stephens, Franklin, Hart and Elbert Counties.

* TIMING...From noon Monday to 8 PM EDT Monday evening.

* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

* HUMIDITY...Minimum relative humidity of 18 to 25 percent.

* FUEL MOISTURE...Likely falling to 8 percent or lower.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread 
  quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.

&&

$$
JCW

163 
WWUS82 KGSP 200005
RFWGSP

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
805 PM EDT Sun Apr 19 2026

GAZ010-017-201000-
/O.EXP.KGSP.FW.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260420T0000Z/
/O.CON.KGSP.FW.A.0003.260420T1600Z-260421T0000Z/
Rabun-Habersham-
805 PM EDT Sun Apr 19 2026

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
NORTHEAST GEORGIA... 
...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE 
HUMIDITY FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA...

* AFFECTED AREA...Rabun and Habersham Counties.

* TIMING...From Monday afternoon through Monday evening.

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

* HUMIDITY...Minimum relative humidity of 20 to 30 percent.

* FUEL MOISTURE...Likely falling to 8 percent or lower.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread 
  quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.

&&

$$

GAZ018-026-028-029-201000-
/O.CON.KGSP.FW.A.0003.260420T1600Z-260421T0000Z/
Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-
805 PM EDT Sun Apr 19 2026

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR 
NORTHEAST GEORGIA...

* AFFECTED AREA...Stephens, Franklin, Hart and Elbert Counties.

* TIMING...From Monday afternoon through Monday evening.

* WINDS...West 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

* HUMIDITY...Minimum relative humidity of 18 to 25 percent.

* FUEL MOISTURE...Likely falling to 8 percent or lower.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread 
  quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.

&&

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
726 PM EDT Sat Apr 18 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Minor changes to the evening forecast based on latest conditions.

Updated aviation discussion for 00Z TAFs.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1. Gusty northwest winds develop behind a cold front late
tonight into Sunday morning, with the strongest winds in the
mountains. Much cooler air follows, ending the recent stretch of
summer-like warmth.
2. Temperatures return to near or below normal Sunday night
through Tuesday. Some frost is possible over the mountains and/or
northwest North Carolina Piedmont Sunday night and especially
Monday night, so precautions might be needed to protect sensitive
vegetation. Warm weather returns Wednesday into next weekend.
3. Rain chances remain very low from Sunday afternoon
through Friday, with relative humidity becoming very low each
afternoon. These conditions will exacerbate Fire Weather concerns
and drought conditions.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Key message 1: Gusty northwest winds develop behind a cold front late
tonight into Sunday morning, with the strongest winds in the
mountains. Much cooler air follows, ending the recent stretch of
summer-like warmth.

The main feature of interest in the near term is a cold front
currently positioned across the Ohio, Tennessee, and Lower
Mississippi Valleys. The front will approach quickly tonight, likely
reforming east of the mountains as it moves into the area. A weak
surface low is expected to develop along the boundary near the
northern Blue Ridge late this evening and track northeast toward the
Mid-Atlantic coast by early Sunday morning.

Most guidance, including the 12Z HREF and REFS, keeps the bulk of
shower activity west of the mountains through midnight. A low
probability exists for an isolated shower or storm near sunset
across the central and northern mountains along a pre-frontal
trough, but forcing is weak and instability is limited. Any
precipitation that does develop overnight will weaken as it moves
east into the foothills and Piedmont early Sunday morning, resulting
in minimal rainfall and little relief from ongoing dry conditions.

The primary impact with this system will be the surge of gusty
northwest winds and the arrival of much cooler air behind the front.
Strong pressure rises on the order of 5 to 9 mb in six hours are
expected immediately behind the boundary between roughly 09Z and 15Z
Sunday. This will support widespread gusty winds, especially across
the mountains where gusts of 30 to 40 mph are expected, with 40 to
50 mph likely along the highest ridges. A Wind Advisory is in effect
for elevations above 3500 ft in the western North Carolina mountains
from 6 AM to 2 PM Sunday. Probabilistic guidance from the NBM and
REFS supports the highest likelihood of advisory level gusts along
the Blue Ridge Escarpment during the morning hours. Outside of the
mountains, gusts of 20 to 35 mph are expected.

Key message 2: Temperatures return to near or below normal Sunday
night through Tuesday. Some frost is possible over the mountains
and/or northwest North Carolina Piedmont Sunday night and especially
Monday night, so precautions might be needed to protect sensitive
vegetation. Warm weather returns Wednesday into next weekend.

High pressure will continue to build in from the west Sunday night
into Monday. CAA and weakening winds should allow temperatures to
fall several degrees below climo, reaching the mid to lower 30s
in portions of the mountains and northern foothills, so frost
may be able to form in areas sheltered from the winds, though
dry dewpoints could be a limiting factor. On Monday, CAA will be
reinforced as a stronger area of continental high pressure pushes
across the Southern Appalachians from the Ohio Valley, beneath
the confluent area upstream of the departing upper trough. This
should bring a dry backdoor cold front into the CWA. Exceptionally
deep mixing is shown on prog soundings for Monday afternoon,
suggesting the redevelopment of gusty winds. Gust potential is not
quite as high as Sunday, though some ridgetops could approach Wind
Advisory criteria. CAA will continue Monday night as the backdoor
front pushes southward. Enough wind is expected to linger over the
southern half of the area to offset cooling, such that those areas
should see overnight mins similar to those the previous night. The
mountains and northwest NC Piedmont (generally near/north of I-40)
are more likely to decouple and thus trend colder, with more
widespread temps in the mid to lower 30s. Dry air again will be a
limiting factor for frost east of the mountains, so the mountain
valleys would appear to be most at risk, based on the current
forecast. Max temps Tuesday however will rebound several degrees
in the mountain valleys as SW flow redevelops by afternoon; other
areas will remain a few degrees below normal thru the afternoon.

With heights rising aloft and conditions supporting airmass
modification, temps trend warmer Tue night onward. Maxes Wed-Fri end
up 7-10 degrees above normal under continued mostly sunny skies. The
next front approaches from the west Friday night. Global ensembles
are in relatively good agreement on timing, though probabilities for
enough rain to improve fire weather or drought are very small. Small
PoPs do however return to the western zones.

Key message 3: Rain chances remain very low from Sunday afternoon
through Friday, with relative humidity becoming very low each
afternoon. These conditions will exacerbate Fire Weather concerns
and drought conditions.

With high pressure being the dominant feature across the Southeast
from Sunday through late next week, precip chances over our area
will remain near zero. The predominantly northwest flow occurring
Sunday and Monday will help advect dry continental air into the
region, and also promote development of gusty winds during those
afternoons, enhancing fire danger. Any improvement in fuel moisture
associated with rainfall early Sunday morning is likely to be very
short-lived.

Gusty northwest winds will arrive behind the front before daybreak
Sunday morning and continue throughout the day. While the strongest
winds are expected to occur in the morning, before the really dry
air moves in during the afternoon, there will be enough of an
overlap for winds and RH values to potentially meet red flag
criteria, especially in NE GA on Sunday. A Fire Weather Watch was
issued for Rabun and Habersham Counties, where land management
officials are especially concerned about the dry fuels in the higher
elevations where spring green-up is not yet as prominent as in the
the piedmont.

Though winds will be generally less of a factor on the subsequent
afternoons, as temperatures trend back well above normal and RH
continues to dip below 30% each afternoon, fuel moisture is likely
to remain on a downward trend, even though spring green-up will
continue. Hence fire danger is likely to remain near the top of our
concerns through the rest of the forecast period (Friday). A frontal
system may reach the area from the west next weekend, though
confidence is low that any meaningful rainfall will result.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Increasing VFR stratocu expected ahead of a
cold front overnight. Scattered showers also move in ahead of the
front, so retained the PROB30s for SHRA. KAVL has the highest
probability of MVFR restrictions with the SHRA. Low end gusty SW
wind continues ahead of the front, then shifts to the NW behind the
front increasing in speed and becoming very gusty. N to NW gusty
winds continue through the day Sunday but do diminish somewhat by
late afternoon. Low clouds scatter out quickly behind the front as
well.

Outlook: Winds diminish Sunday night with dry and VFR conditions
continuing through most of next week.

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...INCREASED FIRE DANGER until 8 PM EDT this evening for GAZ010-
     017-018-026-028-029.
     Fire Weather Watch from Sunday afternoon through Sunday
     evening for GAZ010-017.
NC...Wind Advisory from 6 AM to 2 PM EDT Sunday for NCZ033-049-050-
     052-053-059-062>064-505.
SC...None.

&&

JCW/JK/RWH