ENHANCED FIRE DANGER FOR ATHENS CO THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING, DESPITE LOWER TEMPERATURES AND LIGHTER WINDS COMPARED WITH YESTERDAY, TEMPERATURES TOPPING OUT IN THE UPPER 50S AND WIND GUSTS TO 25 TO 30 MPH THIS AFTERNOON, WILL COMBINE WITH DRY BRUSH AND NATURAL DEBRIS TO CREATE AN ENHANCED FIRE THREAT ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL DIMINISH QUICKLY THIS EVENING.

OPEN BURNING OF ANY TYPE IS CONSIDERED EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT THIS TIME AND IS DISCOURAGED. BE VERY CAREFUL OF HEAT AND SPARKS WHILE OPERATING ANY EQUIPMENT IN WILDLAND AREAS. IN ADDITION AVOID SMOKING IN WILDLAND AREAS OR TOSSING CIGARETTE BUTTS.

REMEMBER, OHIO LAWS PROHIBIT BURNING BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 6 AM TO 6 PM.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND THE DIVISION OF FORESTRY, FIRE DANGER STATEMENT ISSUED.

STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE AN ENHANCED FIRE THREAT ACROSS SOUTHEAST OHIO TODAY. OPEN BURNING OF ANY TYPE IS CONSIDERED EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT THIS TIME AND IS DISCOURAGED. BE VERY CAREFUL OF HEAT AND SPARKS WHILE OPERATING ANY EQUIPMENT IN WILDLAND AREAS. IN ADDITION, AVOID SMOKING IN WILDLAND AREAS.

OHIO FIRE LAWS PROHIBIT BURNING BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 6 AM TO 6 PM.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR ATHENS COUNTY FROM 1 PM WEDNESDAY 3/12 TO 2 AM THURSDAY 3/13.

HAZARD TYPES – SNOW. SOME AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW BY LATE IN THE DAY IN OPEN RURAL AREAS.

SNOW ACCUMULATIONS – 1 TO 2 INCHES, WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS TO 3 INCHES POSSIBLE.

TIMING – WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING

IMPACTS – UNTREATED SURFACES COULD BECOME ICY BY LATE IN THE DAY AND IN THE EVENING.

TEMPERATURES – FALLING RAPIDLY INTO THE 20S DURING WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS:
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW OR ICE ON UNTREATED ROADS BY LATE IN THE DAY OR EVENING. ALLOW EXTRA TRAVEL TIME.

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR ATHENS COUNTY FROM 12 NOON WEDNESDAY 3/12 TO MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY 3/12.

WINDS – STRONGEST GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH.

TIMING – WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND WEDNESDAY EVENING.

IMPACTS – THE MOST VULNERABLE TREE BRANCHES MAY BE BROKEN.  DEBRIS COULD BE BLOWN ONTO ROADS. THERE COULD ALSO BE SOME POWER HITS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS:
A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT STRONG GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT WITH SUDDEN CROSS WINDS, ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN DRIVING. SECURE OUTSIDE OBJECTS, INCLUDING AROUND CONSTRUCTION SITES.

The Athens Co SNOW EMERGENCY has been CANCELED, please drive carefully!

Athens County is under a LEVEL 1 SNOW EMERGENCY.  Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Roads may also be icy. Motorists are urged to drive very cautiously.

Athens County is under a LEVEL 2 SNOW EMERGENCY.  Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Roads may also be very icy. Only those who feel it is necessary to drive should be out on the roads. Contact your employer to see if you should report to work. Motorists should use extreme caution.

Athens County is now under a LEVEL1 SNOW EMERGENCY.  Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Roads may also be icy. Motorists are urged to drive very cautiously.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR FREEZING RAIN, SLEET TO SNOW, WHICH IS IN EFFECT FOR ATHENS COUNTY FROM 5 AM SUNDAY 3/2 TO 10 AM MONDAY 3/3. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

• HAZARD TYPES – FREEZING RAIN, SLEET TO SNOW.
• ICE ACCUMULATIONS – UP TO 0.50 INCHES.
• SNOW ACCUMULATIONS – 4 TO 8 INCHES.
• TIMING – STARTING SUNDAY MORNING, PEAKING SUNDAY NIGHT, THEN DIMINISHING ON MONDAY.
• IMPACTS – UNTREATED SURFACES, INCLUDING BOTH ROADS AND WALKWAYS COULD BECOME HAZARDOUS. ICE AND OR WET SNOW CAN ACCUMULATE ON TREES AND POWER LINES, CAUSING POWER INTERRUPTIONS. THE MONDAY MORNING COMMUTE WILL LIKELY BE AFFECTED.
• WINDS – NORTH 5 TO 10 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 MPH.
• TEMPERATURES – IN THE MID 20S.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS:
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW, SLEET AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.  THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

PLEASE REPORT SNOW, SLEET AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE, 800-401-9535, WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY. THIS PHONE NUMBER IS TO BE USED FOR REPORTING PURPOSES ONLY.

YOU CAN ALSO REPORT WINTER WEATHER BY POSTING YOUR REPORT TO THE CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FACEBOOK PAGE OR BY USING THE TWITTER HASHTAG, #NWSRLX.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION FOR THE LATEST UPDATES.  ADDITIONAL DETAILS CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/RLX.