Red Flag Warning Issued for Portions of Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri Due to Critical Fire Danger

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Quad Cities has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is currently in effect. This alert replaces the previous Fire Weather Watch as critical fire weather conditions are expected to develop across the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers portions of southeastern Iowa, western Illinois, and northern Missouri. Specific counties include:

• Iowa: Muscatine, Scott, Louisa, Jefferson, Henry, Des Moines, Van Buren, and Lee.
• Illinois: Whiteside, Rock Island, Henry, Bureau, Putnam, Mercer, Henderson, Warren, Hancock, and McDonough.
• Missouri: Scotland and Clark.

What You Should Do

Residents are strongly advised that outdoor burning is not recommended. Any fire that develops under these conditions will catch and spread quickly. A Red Flag Warning signifies that 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 avoid activities that could spark a fire.

Expected Conditions

The region is experiencing unseasonably mild temperatures and plentiful dry vegetation. Specific conditions include:

• Winds: Southwest to West winds between 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching up to 40 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels dropping as low as 20 percent.
• Temperatures: Highs in the middle to upper 60s.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 12:00 PM (noon) today, February 27, and will remain in effect until 6:00 PM CST this evening.