ST PAUL, Minn. — Despite the melting of a heavy snowpack and flooding in parts of Minnesota, dry and windy conditions in other areas of the state are triggering a Red Flag Warning Monday due to extreme fire danger.
Forecasts call for sunshine and wind gusts approaching or exceeding 45 miles per hour as they did Sunday, creating conditions where a wildfire could quickly jump out of control. Those winds, combined with warm temps and low humidity can trigger a Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watch alert from the National Weather Service (NWS).
Monday's warning is in effect between noon and 8 p.m. and impacts the following counties: Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clay, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Grant, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, Wadena and Wilkin.
Residents in those counties should not burn and are encouraged to check any recent burning they may have done to ensure the fire is completely out.
The DNR will not issue or activate open burning permits during the Red Flag Warning, and campfires are discouraged.
On Tuesday, a Fire Weather Watch covers the rest of the state from noon until 8 p.m. In these areas, colored in tan above, critical fire weather conditions are possible.
“Any spark could become a wildfire under Red Flag conditions,” said Karen Harrison, DNR wildfire prevention specialist.
Red Flag Warnings are dynamic situations and can change suddenly with weather conditions. For more on current fire risks and open burning restrictions, check out the DNR website.
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