ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The National Weather Service is warning of increased fire danger Tuesday as winds pick up again.
A High Wind Warning is in effect from 7 p.m. Tuesday until 1 p.m. Wednesday for much of Western North Carolina.
Those above 3,500 feet can expect south winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 70 mph. Those below 3,500 feet can expect south winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
A cold front approaching the area will also bring a chance of severe thunderstorms after midnight and heavy rain near the Blue Ridge Escarpment, the National Weather Service said. Some of the storms could produce damaging straight-line wind gusts.
Areas in the warning area include Buncombe, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey counties.
Although the rain will help contain wildfires burning in the area, the wind beforehand could hinder those efforts.
The Melrose Fire in Polk County is the biggest active wildfire in the area. As of 5:30 p.m. Monday, the fire had burned almost 600 acres and was 63 percent contained, according to a Polk County Emergency Management/Fire Marshal Facebook post.