Heat Builds in the West; Extremely Critical Fire Weather in the Northwest

A heat wave over the Southwest will intensify this week, peaking and expanding into the Intermountain West and northern High Plains this weekend. Critical to extremely critical fire weather conditions are forecast from the Northwest and the northern Great Basin this weekend. Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warnings have been issued. Read More >

Fire Weather Forecast Banner for Mercer County

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Fire Weather Planning Forecast for SW VA...SE WV and NW NC
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
224 AM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026

.DISCUSSION...

Scattered showers/storms will continue over the area as a warm 
front moves into the area. A widespread wetting rainfall is 
expected today and tonight, with repeated rain chances over the 
next several days due to a cold front stalling across the area. 
RH values will be very high.

Winds will be gusty this afternoon from the south, to around
20 knots at times. Despite the elevated winds, the increase in 
moisture and expected wetting rainfall should keep the fire 
weather risk quite low through the forecast period.

WVZ042-022015-
Mercer-
Including the cities of Bluefield and Flat Top
224 AM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026

                      Today        Tonight      Mon          

Cloud Cover           Mcldy        Mcldy        Pcldy        
Precip Type           Tstms        Tstms        Tstms        
Chance Precip (%)     70           70           40           
Chance of Thunder (%) 70           70           40           
Max/Min Temp          80           64           78           
Min/Max RH %          79           100          76           
Wind 20ft/early(mph)  SE  5        Lgt/Var      Lgt/Var      
Wind 20ft/late(mph)   S  5         Lgt/Var      Lgt/Var      
Precip Amount         0.16         0.35         0.14         
Precip Duration       5            4            1            
Precip Begin          6 AM         Continuing   8 AM         
Precip End            Continuing   3 AM         Continuing   
Mixing Hgt(ft-agl)    3630                      3810         
Transport Wnd (mph)   S 18                      S  7         
Vent Rate (mph-ft)    65340                     26670        
Dispersion                         Very Poor                 
Max ADI Early         36 Fair      43 Gen Good  18 Gen Poor  
Max ADI Late          63 Good      2 Very Poor  33 Fair      
Max LVORI Early       9            10           10           
Max LVORI Late        4            10           4            

Remarks...None.

.FORECAST FOR DAYS 3 THROUGH 7...
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Northeast winds around 5 mph.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny with showers likely and a chance of
thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. Minimum RH 74 percent.
Southeast winds around 5 mph. 
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s. Southeast
winds around 5 mph. 
.WEDNESDAY...Partly sunny with showers likely and a chance of
thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. Minimum RH 74 percent.
South winds around 5 mph. 
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. South winds around 5 mph.
.THURSDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Minimum RH 68 percent.
Southwest winds around 5 mph. 
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Southwest winds around
5 mph. 
.FRIDAY...Partly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Minimum RH 69 percent.
West winds around 5 mph. 
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Minimum RH 69 percent.
Southwest winds around 5 mph.

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

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