FIRE DANGER: NWS Issues Watch For Northwest Iowa

Posted on: 9:06 am, August 30, 2012, by Staff Writer

The lack of moisture and high winds is prompting the National Weather Service to issue a fire weather watch.

The red flag warning covers northwest Iowa and is in effect from noon until 8:00 p.m. Thursday.

With a forecast of winds from 15 to 25 miles an hour and even stronger wind gusts, added to a low relative humidity, fires can spread quickly and out of control.

Tony Jorgensen with Webster County Emergency Management says all Iowans should think twice before burning their own property or garbage.

“Think a little bit, do you want to lose your property? Burn down your neighbors’ property just to get rid of a little bit of debris? Then it could wait for a little while,” says Jorgensen.

Conditions are expected to improve quickly Thursday evening as the winds gradually subside and the relative humidity rises.