CHANHASSEN, Minn. — Conditions will come together to create extreme fire risk in many areas of Minnesota, enough to trigger a Red Flag warning Monday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the Red Flag Warning for 39 counties in central, northeast, northwest and southwest Minnesota due to predicted weather conditions that include warm temps, gusty winds and low relative humidity. Meteorologists expect this September to be the driest on record across the Twin Cities metro and other areas of the state.
Here are the warnings, the counties impacted and when they take effect.
- Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clay, Clearwater, Grant, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Wadena and Wilkin counties - effective 7:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m.
- Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing and Itasca counties - effective 10:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m.
- Big Stone, Chippewa, Douglas, Lac Qui Parle, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Morrison, Pope, Traverse, Todd, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Renville, Redwood and Yellow Medicine counties - effective 11:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m.
- Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone and Rock counites - effective 1:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds residents in impacted counties to not conduct burns, and to check any recent burning to ensure the fire is completely out. The DNR will not issue or activate open burning permits for large vegetative debris burning during Red Flag Warnings, and campfires are highly discouraged.
“When fire risk is this high it’s important to be careful with anything could spark a wildfire,” said Karen Harrison, DNR wildfire prevention specialist.
Red Flag Warnings are evolving situations and conditions can change quickly, either increasing the number of counties impacted or reducing the number. Visit the National Weather Service website or the Minnesota DNR website for updates on the Red Flag Warning, fire danger and burning restrictions.