Wildfire in Georgia, April 20 to 21, 2026

Name: Wildfire in Georgia, April 20 to 21, 2026
Start: 2026-04-20T12:20
End: 2026-04-21T12:20
Location: Georgia

April 20 to 21, 2026 · NWS CHS · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Dry high pressure extending across the Southeast United States continued a prolonged period of drought across the region, favoring an enhanced fire danger risk supportive of wildfires across Southeast Georgia.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS CHS wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Charleston, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 20, 5:51 AM EST, 6 hours 29 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

1) Rain-free conditions dominate this week as high pressure prevails.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 20, 5:51 AM EST, 6 hours 29 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston SC
651 AM EDT Mon Apr 20 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
The Aviation section was updated for the 12Z TAFs.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) Rain-free conditions dominate this week as high pressure
  prevails.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1: Rain-free conditions dominate this week as high
pressure prevails.

Ridging aloft will build into the region on Tuesday, lingering
through the weekend. At the surface high pressure will center itself
over SC early this week. As the week progresses the center of high
pressure will shift offshore. This synoptic set-up will yield near
normal temperatures to start the week, returning to above normal by
the weekend. Unfortunately, no rainfall is in the forecast until
late this weekend, and even that is uncertain. Dry conditions will
lead to an enhanced fire danger through the week, with RH values
dropping to >25% across inland locations every afternoon. Winds do
not seem to be an issue, peaking only around 10 to 15 mph. While
criteria is not met to issue any fire weather products at this time,
users should exercise extreme caution if burning and heed any local
burn bans as coniditons remain very dry.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
12Z TAFs: VFR. Winds should remain steady from the northeast
around 5 kts through late this afternoon. A weak sea breeze is
forecast to advance slowly inland late this afternoon and
evening, turning light winds from the south.

Extended Aviation Outlook: Dry high pressure keeps VFR conditions in
place through much of the coming week. A sea breeze is possible each
afternoon and evening.

&&

.MARINE...
High pressure will build across the marine zones today. Gusty winds
this morning will diminish this afternoon as a sea breeze develops.
Seas of 6 ft may linger across the outer waters until this
afternoon. Small Craft Advisory for the outer GA waters will remain
in effect until 5 PM this afternoon. The pressure pattern should
support winds around 25 kts and wave heights between 2-3 ft through
the remainder of the week.

Rip Currents: Building high pressure will support gusty northeast
winds this morning along the coast. The gusty winds should generate
a strong longshore current through mid-day. Given the longshore
current combined with breakers around 3 ft and lingering elevated
tide cycles, a moderate risk will remain for all beaches today.
Decreasing winds along with decreasing tidal range cycles will allow
the rip current risk to remain low for Tuesday.

&&

.CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
SC...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM EDT this afternoon for AMZ384.

&&

CPM/NED

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 20, 4:39 AM EST, 7 hours 41 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Charleston SC
539 AM EDT Mon Apr 20 2026

GAZ087-088-099>101-114-115-137-216>219-238>241-SCZ040-042>045-
147>152-210945-
Jenkins-Screven-Candler-Bulloch-Effingham-Tattnall-Evans-Long-
Inland Bryan-Coastal Bryan-Inland Chatham-Coastal Chatham-
Inland Liberty-Coastal Liberty-Inland McIntosh-Coastal McIntosh-
Allendale-Hampton-Inland Colleton-Dorchester-Inland Berkeley-
Inland Jasper-Beaufort-Coastal Colleton-Charleston-Coastal Jasper-
Tidal Berkeley-
539 AM EDT Mon Apr 20 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia and
southeast South Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

See the Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook for more information
about the following possible hazardous weather:

- Rip Current

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

&&

The Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook can be found at:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo/?wfo=chs

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, Effingham

When: April 20, 12:20 PM EST to April 21, 12:20 PM EST
Where: Effingham forecast zone
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 32.367, -81.341 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Effingham County Fire Rescue indicated a wildfire that began on April 20th near the intersection of Shawnee Egypt Road and Oakland Ests Drive had spread to approximately 149 acres of brush and woodlands, resulting in the destruction of a 20 by 50 ft barn at a horse farm and 15 to 20 acre pine tree farm. One home also received damage to its exterior. No injuries were reported.

What these are

Wildfire: A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Georgia in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings in Georgia, April 2026

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1321791.