Home Local News FIRE & ICE: Red flag, freeze warnings issued for Richmond, surrounding counties

FIRE & ICE: Red flag, freeze warnings issued for Richmond, surrounding counties

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ROCKINGHAM — Outdoor burning is discouraged in Richmond County and across the Sandhills and Piedmont Wednesday due to dry and windy conditions.

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a red flag warning from the U.S. 1 corridor to the Interstate 77 corridor from 2-8 p.m.

“A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly,” according to the NWS. “A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures will create dangerous fire behavior.”

Winds are forecast to be 15-25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph with temperatures in the upper 60s to mid-70s and a relative humidity as low as 20%.

“Outdoor fires may easily grow out of control in these conditions,” according to the warning.

The N.C. mountains, most of South Carolina and parts of eastern Georgia are under the same warning. Fire danger is also high in most eastern counties.

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Overnight lows are expected to dip to near freezing or below, so forecasters say a frost is possible for parts of the area. Many counties, including Richmond, are under a freeze warning from 4-8 a.m. Thursday.

The N.C. Forest Service reports that there were 22 wildfires that burned 66.35 acres of state and private property on Tuesday.

So far this year, there have been 1,767 fires that burned more than 4,400 acres.

Lows are expected in the mid-30s for Thursday into Friday as well, and the chance for showers on Saturday has increased to 90%, which may put a damper on several planned outdoor activities.

Aging Services Director Jacqueline Welch said that a determination on postponing the April 24 Earth Day clean-up event will be announced Thursday.

 

 



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