Residents across parts of southwest North Carolina, east Tennessee, and southwest Virginia are being advised to take precautions as the National Weather Service (NWS) in Morristown issues a hazardous weather outlook and a special weather statement, indicating a heightened risk of fire. Today's weather in Knoxville is mostly cloudy with temperatures hovering around 54°F. The NWS warns that low afternoon humidity and gusty winds are creating increased fire danger levels.
According to the NWS Morristown, afternoon relative humidity values are expected to drop below 35 percent across the entire forecast area, with values dipping even lower, below 30 percent, in much of the Tennessee valley and far western North Carolina. These conditions, along with winds gusting at 20 to 25 mph, could make for a potentially dangerous situation.
The National Weather Service also alerted, "there is a chance of severe thunderstorms across the Tennessee Valley region on Tuesday." Residents are encouraged to stay updated with the latest forecasts, as severe weather could necessitate spotter reports.
People in the affected areas are urged to refer to local burn permitting authorities before deciding to burn outdoors. "Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities whether you may burn outdoors," the NWS cautioned. "If you do burn outside, use extreme caution." The special weather statement emphasises that outdoor burning is not advisable under the current conditions. Combining low humidity and strong winds, the environment is prime for wildfire ignition and spread.
