(Des Moines) The National Weather Service in Des Moines issued a Red Flag Warning for southern, central, and eastern Iowa from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. this evening.
Forecasters say warm conditions with near record highs, strong and gusty south to southeast winds, and drier air coupled with dry fuels will create critical fire weather conditions by this afternoon. Sustained winds of 20 to 35 mph with gusts of 35 to 45 mph will be common. Coupled with low humidity levels of 30-35 percent, any fires that develop will likely 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.
