...DRY AND WINDY THIS AFTERNOON...

.In the wake of a cold front, gusty winds will develop today as a
dry continental airmass pushes into the region. Low relative
humidity in combination with these winds will make any fires
difficult to control.

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...AND THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT OF NORTH
CAROLINA...

* AFFECTED AREA...Oconee Mountains, Pickens Mountains,
Greenville Mountains, Greater Oconee, Greater Pickens, Greater
Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee, York, Rabun, Anderson,
Abbeville, Laurens, Union SC, Chester, Habersham, Stephens,
Greenwood, Franklin, Hart, Elbert, Alexander, Iredell, Davie,
Catawba, Rowan, Cleveland, Lincoln, Gaston, Mecklenburg,
Cabarrus, Union NC, Caldwell Mountains, Greater Caldwell,
Burke Mountains, Greater Burke, McDowell Mountains, Eastern
McDowell, Rutherford Mountains, Greater Rutherford, Polk
Mountains and Eastern Polk.

* TIMING...This afternoon and early evening.

* WINDS...Northwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 23 percent.

* FUEL MOISTURE...Already seasonably low, under 10 percent, and
likely to drop further with no wetting rain in the forecast
today.

* IMPACTS...Outdoor fires may easily grow out of control in
these conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected to develop. A combination of strong winds, low
relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to
extreme fire behavior.

&&

...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM EDT THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 31 expected.

* WHERE...Gaston, Mecklenburg, Cabarrus and Union NC Counties.

* WHEN...From 2 AM to 8 AM EDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other
sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
plumbing.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent
freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should
be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have
in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-
ground pipes to protect them from freezing.

&&