MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A red warning signal was issued Thursday for most of Minnesota due to extreme fire danger.

The National Weather Service has issued a warning to 85 counties due to “extreme fire danger.” The alert says critical fire conditions are possible across the state due to low humidity, very dry conditions and strong southerly winds.

Which counties are included?

Red Flag Warning issued for 85 Minnesota counties on October 17, 2024. (National Weather Service) (Provided)

The red flag warning covers all counties in Minnesota except Cook and Lake counties in northeastern Minnesota. Here’s when the warning will take effect:

• The warning in northwest Minnesota from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. covers the following 18 counties: Becker, Beltrami, Clay, Clearwater, Grant, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake Of The Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, Wadena and Wilkin.
• The warning in central and southern Minnesota from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. covers the following 58 counties: Anoka, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Chisago, Cottonwood, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault , Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Isanti, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted , Pipestone, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Winona, Wright and Yellow Medicine.
• The warning for northeastern Minnesota from noon to 7 p.m. covers the following eight counties: Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Crow Wing, Itasca, Koochiching, Pine and St. Louis.

A special weather statement was also issued for Cook and Lake counties due to wind and humidity likely to produce “near-critical fire weather conditions.” The statement states that outdoor burning is discouraged.

What is a red flag warning?

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said a red flag warning means “fires can spread quickly and easily become out of control under expected weather conditions, including gusty winds and low relative humidity.” Do not burn in counties where a Red Flag Warning is in effect and check any recent fires to ensure the fire is completely extinguished. »

When a Red Flag Warning has been issued, the DNR will not issue or activate open burning permits, and campfires are discouraged.

Burning Restrictions

As of Thursday, the DNR has implemented burning restrictions for the entire state. Most of Minnesota is under an open burning ban, while northeastern Minnesota is under an elevated burning restriction, meaning additional restrictions may be necessary depending on the risk of current fire.

As of Wednesday, parts of central and southeastern Minnesota were under burning restrictions that required permits, or only permits approved by the agency. However, these areas have been improved and open burning is now prohibited. The map showing the evolution of burning restrictions can be seen below.

The DNR on Wednesday classified much of Minnesota as having a “very high” fire risk, meaning fires can start easily and spread quickly. Parts of southeast and northwest Minnesota are at “high fire risk,” while northern Minnesota is at “moderate” fire risk. The DNR’s fire hazard map has not yet been updated on the website as of October 17.

Drought conditions in Minnesota

Due to the lack of recent precipitation, almost all of Minnesota is suffering from drought. While the state experienced a wet spring and summer, September was one of the hottest and driest Septembers on record in Minnesota. September was also the sunniest month in 75 years, and the Twin Cities experienced one of the driest growing season days on record.

The Twin Cities metro area and areas of southern, central and northern Minnesota are listed as experiencing “moderate drought” conditions. Areas of northeast and southwest Minnesota are experiencing “severe drought” conditions, while other areas are experiencing “abnormally dry” conditions or no drought has been reported.

The Minnesota DNR lists at least 97% of Minnesota as abnormally dry. With no significant rain forecast, drought conditions are expected to persist.

Map of drought conditions for October 15, 2024 in Minnesota. (Credit: Minnesota DNR/National Drought Mitigation Center) (Provided)