MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota's stretch of dry and windy weather continues on Saturday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag Warning for 41 counties in Minnesota.
"It's unusual for it to be across the whole state so early," DNR Wildfire Specialist Karen Harrison said. "The number of wildfires we've experienced that the DNR has responded to is a lot higher than normal for this year."
The NWS has issued three Red Flag Warnings so far this year, all of them in March, across southcentral Minnesota and western Wisconsin. This marks the earliest these warnings have been issued, according to records dating back to 2006.
"With just how dry it is out there and the stronger winds today, that's what really pushes today over the top," NWS Twin Cities Meteorologist Joe Strus said Saturday.
He explained, with low snowfall during the warmest winter on record, dry conditions are posing problems. "We're in this pattern where dry weather is ultimately winning out. It seems like we just can't break through."
Saturday's warning is the first this year that includes the metro area.
Looking ahead, Harrison says wildfire potential is "very high" for the spring. Precipitation will also impact what risk is like in the summer.
Counties affected by Saturday's advisory include:
- Big Stone
- Blue Earth
- Brown
- Carver
- Chippewa
- Cottonwood
- Dakota
- Faribault
- Freeborn
- Goodhue
- Hennepin
- Jackson
- Kandiyohi
- Lac Qui Parle
- Le Sueur
- Lincoln
- Lyon
- Martin
- McLeod
- Meeker
- Murray
- Nicollet
- Nobles
- Pipestone
- Pope
- Ramsey
- Redwood
- Renville
- Rice
- Rock
- Scott
- Sibley
- Stearns
- Steele
- Stevens
- Swift
- Traverse
- Waseca
- Watonwan
- Wright
- Yellow Medicine
During a Red Flag Warning, fires can quickly burn out of control. People living in any of the counties covered by Saturday's advisory should not start an outdoor fire and should check on any places they were recently burning to make sure the fire is fully out.
“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.
RELATED: Grass fire blackens 1,000 acres near Waseca, fire danger remains elevated in parts of Minnesota
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