Red Flag Warning Issued for Eastern Iowa and Northwest Illinois Due to Critical Fire Danger

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Quad Cities has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions. This alert, which replaces the previous Fire Weather Watch, indicates that a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry vegetation has created a significant risk for extreme fire behavior.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad region across eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois, including the following counties:

• Iowa: Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, Benton, Linn, Jones, Jackson, Iowa, Johnson, Cedar, Clinton, Muscatine, Scott, Keokuk, Washington, Louisa, Jefferson, Henry, Des Moines, Van Buren, and Lee.
• Illinois: Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Carroll, Whiteside, Rock Island, Henry, Bureau, Putnam, Mercer, Henderson, and Warren.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are strongly advised to avoid all outdoor burning. Any fire that develops under these conditions will catch and spread rapidly. The National Weather Service warns that fire behavior is expected to be extreme. Residents should prepare for hazardous conditions and monitor local updates.

Expected Conditions

Weather conditions are expected to reach critical thresholds today:

• Winds: Southwest winds between 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching up to 50 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 15 percent.
• Hazards: Plentiful dry vegetation combined with high winds and low humidity will facilitate the rapid spread of any fires.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 10:00 AM CST this morning, Wednesday, February 18, through 8:00 PM CST this evening.