Fire Weather Forecast - Amherst County, VA

FNUS51 KRNK 161824
FWFRNK

Fire Weather Planning Forecast for SW VA...SE WV and NW NC
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
224 PM EDT Thu Apr 16 2026

.DISCUSSION...

...Fire Danger Statement in effect through 8 PM for the VA 
Highlands, VA Piedmont, and all of NW NC...

Very warm temperatures for mid April and drought conditions
over much of the area will continue to keep fuels dry 
through the weekend. We may see some light showers
tonight into Friday morning, but amounts will be limited to a few
hundredths.

Gusty southwest winds to 20 to 25 mph this afternoon will diminish
tonight.

Winds veer NW Friday through speeds will be lighter than today.
By Saturday, winds turn back around to the SW with higher gusts
ahead of an approaching front. Saturday will still be a day to
watch for fire concerns due to the increased winds and likely
late arrival of the front. The Piedmont would be of most concern.

The front moves through Saturday night into early Sunday morning
with a chance for measurable rainfall, mainly for the mountains.
The speed and orientation of the front will also limit rainfall 
with most expected to receive less than a tenth of an inch.

We cool down back to normal behind the front early next
week with a very dry airmass. Monday and Tuesday could see 
humidities in the teens. 

These aforementioned conditions will make fire containment 
increasingly difficult through Saturday and into next week. 

&&

VAZ035-170815-
Amherst-
Including the city of Amherst
224 PM EDT Thu Apr 16 2026

                      Tonight      Fri          Fri Night    Sat          

Cloud Cover           Pcldy        Mclear       Mclear       Mclear       
Precip Type           Showers      Showers      None         None         
Chance Precip (%)     20           30           0            0            
Chance of Thunder (%) 0            0            0            0            
Min/Max Temp          60           86           57           90           
Max/Min RH %          80           24           74           26           
Wind 20ft/early(mph)  W  5 G19     W  3         Lgt/Var      Lgt/Var      
Wind 20ft/late(mph)   W  4         NW  4        Lgt/Var      S  5 G17     
Precip Amount         0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00         
Precip Duration       1            0                                      
Precip Begin          10 PM        Continuing                             
Precip End            Continuing   8 AM                                   
Mixing Hgt(ft-agl)                 8450                      8520         
Transport Wnd (mph)                NW 14                     SW 17        
Vent Rate (mph-ft)                 118300                    144840       
Dispersion            Fair                      Very Poor                 
Max ADI Early         116 Very Good90 Good      78 Good      55 Gen Good  
Max ADI Late          10 Poor      122 Very Good2 Very Poor  149 Very Good
Max LVORI Early       2            4            2            4            
Max LVORI Late        3            1            3            1            

Remarks...None.

.FORECAST FOR DAYS 3 THROUGH 7...
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and a
slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Southwest
winds 10 to 15 mph. 
.SUNDAY...Mostly cloudy with showers likely and a slight chance
of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 60s. Minimum RH 30 percent.
Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph. 
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Colder. Lows in the upper 30s.
Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph. 
.MONDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. Minimum RH 17 percent.
Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. 
.MONDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the mid 30s. Northwest winds 5 to
10 mph. 
.TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. Minimum RH 21 percent.
South winds 5 to 10 mph. 
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Warmer. Lows around 50. Southwest
winds 5 to 10 mph. 
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Minimum RH
26 percent. West winds 5 to 10 mph. 
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. West
winds 5 to 10 mph. 
.THURSDAY...Mostly sunny with a slight chance of showers. Highs
in the upper 70s. Minimum RH 30 percent. West winds around 5 mph.

.OUTLOOK 8 TO 14 DAYS...
Temperatures near normal.  Precipitation near normal.