COUNTIES IN IOWA: EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO- POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-CRAWFORD-CARROLL- GREENE-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-CASS–HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE

433 AM CDT MON SEP 10 2012

…FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS….FROM 1:00-PM TUESDAY AFTERNOON UNTIL 7:00-PM TUESDAY EVENING.

SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH…WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH,  ALONG WITH LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT…AND FIELD CROPS WHICH ARE NEARLY CURED AND HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE  COULD LEAD TO RAPID FIRE GROWTH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. IN ADDITION…THE DRYING OF GRASSES IS WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE DUE TO THE HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS THIS SUMMER. IF A FIRE STARTS TUESDAY AFTERNOON…RAPID FIRE GROWTH WOULD BE POSSIBLE AND IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTAIN.

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS.