A red flag fire warning is in effect for Rowan County from 8 a.m. this morning to 8 p.m. tonight.
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg issued the warning.
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 will create explosive fire growth potential.
Winds of 15 to 25 mph will become gusty, 25-35 mph, by mid morning with gusts increasing through the afternoon hours. A few gusts near 40 mph are possible.
Relative humidity values will approach critical levels from mid- to late afternoon. Afternoon humidity values should fall to between 25 and 30 percent across the foothills and Piedmont. Values will likely dip to between 30 and 40 percent across most of the mountains.
Scattered thunderstorms may develop from the west from late afternoon through the evening hours.