Extreme Fire Risk for portions of Minnesota, dry all over

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning on Monday for 39 counties in central, northeast, northwest, and southwest Minnesota due to extreme fire danger. Strong gusty winds are forecast for today and this evening with very low relative humidity. Winds could gust up to 35 mph.

Follow the Watches and Warnings here.

A Red Flag Warning means fires can spread quickly and easily progress out of control under the predicted weather conditions, including gusty winds and low relative humidity. Do not burn in counties where a Red Flag Warning is in effect.

“When fire risk is this high it’s important to be careful with anything could spark a wildfire,” Karen Harrison, DNR wildfire prevention specialist said in a press release.

• A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 7:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. Monday – for Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clay, Clearwater, Grant, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Wadena, and Wilkin.

• A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 10:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. Monday – for Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Itasca.

• A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. Monday – for Big Stone, Chippewa, Douglas, Lac Qui Parle, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Morrison, Pope, Traverse, Todd, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Renville, Redwood, and Yellow Medicine.

• A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 1:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m. Monday – for Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, and Rock.

Burning permits will not be issued by the Department of Natural Resources, and campfires are discouraged.

For more information and daily updates on current fire risk and open burning restrictions, visit the statewide fire danger and burning restrictions page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions).