Red Flag Warning Issued for Southern and Central Louisiana Through Sunday Evening

Alert Details

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Lake Charles, LA, has issued a Red Flag Warning for several regions in Louisiana. This alert indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent, driven by a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the following Fire Weather Zones and parishes:

• Central Louisiana: Avoyelles, Allen, Evangeline, and St. Landry.
• South Central Louisiana: Lafayette, Upper St. Martin, Lower St. Martin, Upper Iberia, Lower Iberia, Upper St. Mary, and Lower St. Mary.
• Southwest Louisiana: East Cameron, Northern Calcasieu, Southern Calcasieu, Northern Jefferson Davis, Southern Jefferson Davis, Northern Acadia, Southern Acadia, Upper Vermilion, and Lower Vermilion.

What You Should Do

Outdoor burning is not recommended during this period. Residents should be aware that any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly due to the prevailing conditions. Residents are encouraged to prepare for extreme fire behavior and monitor local updates.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: North winds at 10 to 20 mph, with gusts reaching up to 30 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 22 percent.
• Temperatures: Maximum temperatures will reach up to 60 degrees.
• Lightning: No lightning is expected during this event.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective immediately and will remain in place until 6:00 PM CST this evening, Sunday, February 22. Additionally, a Fire Danger Statement has been issued for Monday, with the potential for a further upgrade to a Red Flag Warning for portions of coastal Louisiana.