Horry County officials have issued a burn ban for all unincorporated areas of the county until further notice.

The ban was prompted by a special weather statement from the National Weather Service warning of an increased fire danger this afternoon to the very early evening, according to an email from Lisa Bourcier, public information director for Horry County.

According to Bourcier, the weather statement said that increasing southwest and west winds, accompanied by dry conditions ahead of a cold front, will increase the danger of fire spread today.