The National Weather Service issued a high fire danger alert for Cobb County and other counties in the region for the afternoon of Thursday December 14 due to low relative humidity and dry conditions.

What is in the statement?

The statement gives the following details:

…HIGH FIRE DANGER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING

FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA DUE TO LOW

RELATIVE HUMIDITIES…

Relative Humidities of 25 percent or less can be expected for 4

or more hours this afternoon into the evening. Winds will be

northeast at 8 to 12 mph, with gusts to 20 mph possible.

With dry fuels, high fire danger conditions can be expected.

Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities

whether you may burn outdoors. If you do burn outside, use

extreme caution.

Why does low relative humidity increase the danger of fire?

The National Park Service published the following explanation of why low relative humidity increases the danger of fires:

“Relative humidity is important because dead forest fuels and the air are always exchanging moisture. Low humidity takes moisture from the fuels, and fuels in turn, take moisture from the air when the humidity is high. 

“Light fuels, such as grass and pine needles, gain and lose moisture quickly with changes in relative humidity. When the RH drops, fire behavior increases because these fine fuels become drier. 

“Heavy fuels, on the other hand, respond to humidity changes more slowly. To see significant changes in heavy fuel moisture, there must be significant moisture, usually from more than a single storm.”

What counties are affected?

The following counties are included in the hazardous weather outlook:

1. Banks
2. Barrow
3. Bartow
4. Carroll
5. Catoosa
6. Chattooga
7. Cherokee
8. Clarke
9. Clayton
10. Cobb
11. Coweta
12. Dade
13. Dawson
14. DeKalb
15. Douglas
16. Fannin
17. Fayette
18. Floyd
19. Forsyth
20. Gilmer
21. Gordon
22. Gwinnett
23. Hall
24. Haralson
25. Heard
26. Henry
27. Jackson
28. Lumpkin
29. Madison
30. Murray
31. Newton
32. North Fulton
33. Oconee
34. Oglethorpe
35. Paulding
36. Pickens
37. Polk
38. Rockdale
39. South Fulton
40. Towns
41. Union
42. Walker
43. Walton
44. White
45. Whitfield

What precautions should be taken?

The National Weather Service recommends extreme caution if you do outdoor burning during high fire danger conditions, and that you check your local fire ordinances.

>> To read a summary of Cobb County’s fire ordinances follow this link

About the National Weather Service

The National Weather Service (NWS) is a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The NWS describes its role as follows:

“The National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather, water, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. 

“These services include Forecasts and Observations, Warnings, Impact-based Decision Support Services, and Education in an effort to build a Weather-Ready Nation. 

“The ultimate goal is to have a society that is prepared for and responds to weather, water and climate events.”

Read all the Cobb County Courier climate and weather coverage by following this link.