Red Flag Warning Issued for North-Central and Northeast Illinois Due to Critical Fire Conditions

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a Red Flag Warning for north-central and northeast Illinois. This alert, which replaces the previously issued Fire Weather Watch, indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following counties in Illinois:

• Winnebago
• Boone
• McHenry
• Ogle
• Lee
• De Kalb
• Kane
• La Salle
• Kendall
• Grundy

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are strongly advised against any outdoor burning. Under these conditions, any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Residents should prepare for these hazardous conditions and monitor local updates.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: West winds sustained between 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching 40 to 45 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 15 to 20 percent.
• Impacts: The combination of high gusts and low humidity will facilitate the rapid spread of any fires that ignite.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is in effect from 10:00 AM CST this morning, February 18, until 8:00 PM CST this evening.