SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-MONONA COUNTIES

350 AM CDT THU MAR 12 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* WIND…INCREASING TO SOUTH 25 TO 30 MPH BY AFTERNOON

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AS LOW AS 25 TO 35 PERCENT IN THE AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS…FUELS ARE VERY DRY ACROSS THE AREA. ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED ACROSS THE REGION.

* TIMING…WINDS WILL INCREASE AFTER NOON WITH PEAK WINDS BETWEEN 1 PM AND 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON. RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL ALSO BE AT ITS LOWEST DURING THIS TIME.

* FUEL…FINE FUELS SUCH AS GRASSES AND BRUSH ARE VERY DRY AND WILL BURN EASILY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW…OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.