Elevated fire danger over the weekend

Today we will see the chances for showers all day.  Speaking of which, when was the last time a Saturday or Sunday has been wet during the daytime?

A fire danger threat exist all weekend as relative humidity levels drop to the 25 percent or lower range to trigger a Red Flag Warning.  A Red Flag Warning is effect for western Minnesota today.

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WEST CENTRAL INTO SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* WINDS...BY NOON WEST 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...25 PERCENT OR LOWER THIS AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...STRONG WINDS AND DRY FUELS WILL CREATE DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING WHICH COULD CAUSE FIRES TO GROW QUICKLY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND DRY FUELS WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources indicates fire danger to be between high and extreme across the state.  Much of western and southwestern Minnesota falls under the extreme category.

According to the DNR, extreme fire danger is:

The fire situation is explosive and can result in extensive property damage. Fires under extreme conditions start quickly, spread furiously, and burn intensely. All fires are potentially serious. Development into high-intensity burning will usually be faster and occur from smaller fires than in the very high danger class. Direct attack is rarely possible, and may be dangerous, except immediately after ignition. Fires burning in heavy slash or in conifer stands may be unmanageable while the extreme burning condition lasts. Under these conditions, the only effective and safe control action is on the flanks until the weather changes or the fuel supply lessens.

The Storm Prediction Center produces a fire weather outlook.  They have issued a critical risk of fire danger for a good portion of southern Minnesota on Easter Sunday as relative humidity values are forecasted to be in the 15 to 20 percent range, and sustained winds of 20 MPH.  We will likely see more Red Flag Warnings again tomorrow.

Be extra careful with your fires this weekend, or better yet, avoid any type of fire altogether.  Under these conditions, an uncontrolled fire can spread pretty quickly and it will be too late.

RS

Fire danger this week

With gusty winds expected Tuesday, and low relative humidity levels, the National Weather Service in Chanhassen issued a Fire Weather Watch for southern Minnesota.

...A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF DRY FINE FUELS...VERY STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES EXPECTED DURING THIS TIME... .A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS MINNESOTA TUESDAY MORNING. STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 25 TO 35 MPH WILL DEVELOP IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT. WIND GUSTS TO NEAR 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE AS WELL. IN ADDITION...THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL DROP TO NEAR 25 PERCENT DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE COMBINATION OF THE WIND...DRY FUELS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY COULD LEAD TO VERY DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

This coincides with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources imposing burning restrictions in 35 counties across the state beginning on March 26th.

From the Minnesota DNR:

Fire danger in most of Minnesota is expected to increase rapidly in the coming week, as the snow continues to melt and winds dry the dead standing grass and brush in open areas. Because of this danger, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will place burning restrictions over much of the state starting March 26, with more areas included later.

Spring fire restrictions limit open burning until summer green-up occurs. Traditionally, most wildfires in Minnesota occur during April and May. More than 95 percent of these fires are caused by human error.

“Because of the high fire incidence during this time period, the DNR proactively initiates burning restrictions,” said DNR Fire Prevention Coordinator Larry Himanga.

The restrictions normally last from four to six weeks until sufficient green vegetative growth occurs. Spring fire restrictions have resulted in a dramatic decrease in both the numbers and sizes of accidental fires, Himanga said.

The burning restrictions mean the state will not give out burning permits for burning brush or yard waste.

The following counties will be included in the initial burning restrictions this spring: Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, southern Beltrami (that portion south of Hwy. 1), Benton, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Hennepin, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Kittson, Manhomen, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Polk (that portion south and east of County Road 6 from the Manhomen County line to MN Hwy 92 east to the Clearwater County line) Pope, Ramsey, Roseau (that portion west of Hwy. 89), Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena, Washington, and Wright. More counties will be added as spring weather conditions warrant.

Campfires are still allowed. Campers should watch their fire continuously and make sure it is out and cold to the touch before leaving the area.

Fire conditions may change quickly over the next few weeks. More information including maps and fire conditions is available online.

RS

Fire danger today with record breaking temperatures

The record high temperature in the Twin Cities will be flirted with today as temperatures are expected to climb close to 60 degrees behind a warm front moving through the area.  The record for March 10th at MSP is 59 degrees set back in 1878.

The mild air as eliminated the snow pack from the southern Twin Cities metro all the way to the Minnesota/Iowa border.  The snow pack is visible on satellite, as well as the larger lakes frozen over in northern Minnesota.  The exposed ground combined with unusually warm air and low relative humidity has triggered a fire danger across the southern third of Minnesota.

The result is a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service for the southern tier of counties in Minnesota effective until 6:00 PM today.  This includes Redwood Falls, Mankato, and Rochester.  It's quite rare to see a Red Flag Warning this early in the year.  Typically these are issued before the green-up in April.

If you are working with an open flame today (including cigarettes), be extra cautious of your surroundings.  It’s not going to take much to get a grass fire going.

RS

Record heat in October? Fire danger increases this week

The very nice stretch continues this week as warm, dry weather is the main weather story across the state.  We will be in the 80s through Friday before temperatures cool down a bit for the weekend and into next week.

We have a shot of breaking a 132-year-old record on Wednesday for high temperatures in the Twin Cities.  The record is 87 degrees, set in 1879.  Both the Twin Cities and southwest suburbs are projected to be around 88 degrees for the day.

Since the high was 85 degrees for Tuesday, and the models are projecting warmer air for Wednesday, I have no doubts that we should see temperatures approaching 90 degrees for a daytime high. It’s truly an amazing climatological feat considering the lower sun angles this time of the year.

The temperatures combined with the dry spell have set the state for fire conditions across much of southern and western Minnesota through Wednesday as a Red Flag Warning issued for approximately the western third of Minnesota.

So what is a Red Flag Warning?  It’s an alert for dangerous fire conditions and issued by the National Weather Service when these criteria exist:

1. Sustained one-minute winds at standard 20 foot level are at or above 20 mph. However, in the Red River Valley of northwest Minnesota and in the southwest corner of the state sustained winds must be at or above 25 mph.
   
2. Minimum relative humidity at or less than 25 percent.
   
3. Temperatures at or greater than 75 degrees F. A “soft temperature threshold” used, mainly in
   spring fire season.

According to Tom Romaine, fire supervisor south for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR):

Unusually high temps and low humidity, combined with increasing winds are creating potentially dangerous fire conditions across much of our region.  In the past 24 hours, many counties have put burning restrictions in place and some have banned recreational fires. It is important to for people to check with their county to see what restrictions exist.

Even if restrictions have not been posted in your county, great care should be taken with any outdoor fire right now.

The potential for crop field fires is also high right now. The low moisture content in corn and soybean fields creates a heightened fire danger.  It is more important than ever for farmers to keep machinery clean, make sure guards are in place and carry a fire extinguisher.

Use extra caution with open flames through the end of the week.  Only the slightest chance of rain returns overnight Saturday, but overall the next week looks rain-free.

RS