Wildfires rage across South Carolina; it's the season, what's at play & weather forecast

On Sunday, 175 wildfires raged across many areas of South Carolina. This weekend, very strong gusts of wind affected much of the Southeast and Middle Atlantic. This was after the passage of a cold front, which brought strong, very dry northerly winds. Low humidity levels and strong winds can propagate fires quickly. The high-pressure system is moving toward the east, but on Monday, fire weather conditions are still expected across much of South Carolina. The combination of dry fuels & low relative humidity continues to raise concerns for dangerous fire behavior on Monday. The South Carolina Forestry Commission has issued a burn ban because of this. The ban will stay in effect until further notice, which will come in the form of an official announcement from the Forestry Commission.

The forecast this week

The weather conditions are looking better to help fight wildfires that are still ongoing on Monday, but keep in mind that some areas will still deal with some gusts and very dry air in place, especially along the Midlands. The winds will shift and slow down, and the temperatures will increase. The good news is that we also expect shallow pockets of moisture in the lower levels of the atmosphere, which could bring stray showers, especially along the coast. As the high-pressure system continues to move eastward, a cold front will be heading east this week. This is the same system that is slated to bring severe weather across parts of Texas on Monday and then the Deep South on Tuesday.

By Wednesday, some strong to severe storms could still affect parts of the Southeast. Some isolated showers and thunderstorms could move closer to Upstate, and the showers could push through the Midlands during the afternoon. Overall, the front is losing its punch as it moves east; therefore, we’re not expecting widespread severe weather, but we could still see a storm or two, perhaps a few more along the coast, as the front moves through by late afternoon and evening on Wednesday. We can't rule out one of two strong to severe thunderstorms.

READ MORE ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA'S WILDFIRE SEASON HERE

Remember that the winds will increase before the cold front pushes through on Tuesday night and Wednesday; winds will be mainly from the south. Therefore, it is not just dry but also strong; at times, gusts could reach 40 mph. After the cold front passes on Wednesday, the dry winds will be back, again from the north-northwest, and another round of strong gusts is possible through Friday; some of these gusts could exceed 45 mph. Fire weather conditions could be in place again between Thursday and Friday. We will continue monitoring the situation and bringing in the latest on our sites.

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How does weather affect wildfires?

Lightning can start fires, especially if it strikes over dry vegetation. Keep in mind that five out of 6 fires are started by humans. Once a fire is ignited, either by lightning or humans — on purpose or not— weather conditions can spread such fires. Drought, vegetation, humidity, temperatures, and winds are the key components that can spread a fire. Windy conditions after a cold front sweeps through allow the fires to spread quickly. These are the two main reasons you might hear about "red flag warnings" across different parts of the state. These warnings alert residents about dangerous fire weather conditions, specifically when humidity is low and strong winds are in full force. Warm temperatures could also be at play with low humidity and gusty winds. Warmth brings more evaporation and, under the correct setup, can also give more power to wildfires.

Residents must do their part to prevent wildfires. Please avoid burning trash and other belongings, such as old documents. Also, please be aware of any burn bans in your area and the local weather conditions that could aid the propagation of fires.