(Des Moines) The National Weather Service has Iowa under a Red Flag Warning today from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Extremely warm temperatures combined with dry vegetation, low relative humidity, and increasing winds will create conditions conducive for any grassland fires that develop to spread rapidly.
Southwest winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts of 25 to 35 mph, along with minimum relative humidity in the afternoon of 15 to 25 percent, could fuel any fires that develop to spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly occur. Strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.