ROANOKE, Va. – Wednesday Evening Update
The Weather Authority Alert Day issued for Wednesday, March 20 has expired.
Wednesday Afternoon Update
High winds continue through the afternoon. The gusts combine with dry ground to present a fire risk across our region. Be sure to avoid any burning outdoors both on Wednesday and Thursday.
Wind gusts drop in the late afternoon, but they stay high through midnight. Some wind even lingers into Thursday.
The breeze on Thursday is noticeably calmer than on Wednesday. The lower wind helps to lower the fire risk. While the Alert Day is done before Thursday the fire risk drops more significantly later this week.
A new rain system brings showers late on Friday. That rain continues through the night into Saturday. With many of us getting more than an inch of rain the ground conditions improve nicely.
Wednesday Morning Update
A Weather Authority Alert Day remains in place for Wednesday, due to a high threat of brush fires.
Some local burn bans have been issued, but a statewide burn ban is also in place each day until 4 p.m. through the end of April. (This happens annually.)
Wednesday’s wind gusts will reach 30 to 45 mph, while the humidity stays very low. The wind gradually eases later in the week.
While we aren’t technically in a drought, we welcome in the rain to extinguish the threat for fires late Friday into Saturday. In fact, the timing has been moved back more to where this becomes more of a Friday night/off-and-on Saturday ordeal.
Latest forecasts data suggests rain totals of 0.75″ to 1.50” through Saturday.
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Tuesday Evening Update
A Fire Weather Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service. Critical fire weather conditions are expected to occur Wednesday.
High wind gusts and low humidity are making fire conditions more than favorable. Burns are not advised until conditions improve.
Winds will be sustained anywhere from 10-20 mph through the day, and will be gusting between 30-45 mph at times.
Relative humidity, which is a measure for the amount of moisture in the air is very low tomorrow. Values in the 20s and 30s are expected for all of tomorrow.
To recap, tomorrow will bring critical fire weather. Any fires that start will be difficult to control.
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