The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Red Flag Warning amid rising wildfire risks across several states.
The warning comes as dry conditions, strong winds, and unseasonably warm temperatures could lead to rapid fire ignition and spread.
In recent weeks, several US states, including parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming and New Mexico, have been placed under Red Flag Warnings because these conditions could lead to wildfires.
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What is a Red Flag Warning?
A Red Flag Warning is an official alert issued when weather conditions are highly favourable for wildfires to ignite and spread rapidly. These include strong winds, very low humidity, warm temperatures and dry fuel conditions, making even small sparks potentially dangerous.
NWS use the warning to signal the heightened risk of wildfire combustion and rapid spread to firefighters, emergency services like land management agencies and the public. The issuance of the warning leads to burn bans and precautionary measures.
The Guardian reported that such alerts are becoming more frequent due to climate change, which is driving earlier snowmelt, prolonged droughts and hotter temperatures across the US.
Full list of states affected today
{{/usCountry}}The Guardian reported that such alerts are becoming more frequent due to climate change, which is driving earlier snowmelt, prolonged droughts and hotter temperatures across the US.
Full list of states affected today
{{/usCountry}}Red Flag Warnings and critical fire weather conditions are currently impacting or expected across multiple regions.
Parts of Minnesota and Southern area
According to the NWS, critical fire weather conditions will occur in central and southern Minnesota on Saturday due to a combination of warmer temperatures close to 60 degrees.
For most of the alert region on Saturday, the red flag warning is in force from noon to seven o'clock. But from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday, parts of southern Minnesota are under a red flag warning.
Low relative humidity conditions between 15 and 20%, southwest winds gusting to 35 to 45 mph, and dry fuel have been reported by the NWS.
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Georgia, Atlanta
NWS Atlanta also issued a red flag warning for Saturday, March 28. Most of Georgia is projected to be under “critical fire weather.”
Parts of North Carolina
The NWS has also issued a red flag warning for several areas of North Carolina for Saturday, from 8 AM to 11 PM EDT.
Areas like the North Carolina Portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Caldwell Mountain are projected to experience gusty winds and low relative humidity.
Other parts of North Carolina include Avery, Alexander, Iredell, Southern Jackson, Transylvania, Henderson, Cleveland, etc.