Red Flag Warning continues in effect, critical fire weather

ST. GEORGE  – The National Weather Service has issued a “Red Flag Warning,” in effect from noon Wednesday to 10 p.m. on Thursday for wind and low relative humidity for parts of Washington County included in the Mojave Desert. The “Fire Weather Watch” previously issued has been superseded by the Red Flag Warning for this area.

Dots denote Fire Weather Zone 497, Mojave Desert, Washington County, Utah, Radar time 5:30 a.m., June 11, 2013 | Image courtesy of National Weather Service
Dots denote Fire Weather Zone 497, Mojave Desert, Washington County, Utah, Radar time 5:30 a.m., June 11, 2013 | Image courtesy of National Weather Service

According to its alert, the NWS forecasts winds relaxing some and the relative humidity rising into the upper teens Wednesday night but then winds rapidly increasing and relative humidity lowering below 15 percent late Thursday morning.

Affected area: Fire Weather Zone 497 Mojave Desert (see map insert).

Winds: Southwest 20-30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

Relative Humidity: Near 10 percent Wednesday and 5 percent Thursday.

Impacts: The combination of strong winds and low relative humidity will create hazardous fire weather conditions where fuels are critically dry.

Precautionary / preparedness actions: A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.

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2 Comments

  • real life June 12, 2013 at 2:35 pm

    And yet you know that some dumb hillbilly will start a fire grinding on metal, target shooting, or setting of a bottle rocket.

    • Big Don June 12, 2013 at 3:12 pm

      Or just doing an illegal burn. I think people who start these fires need to be prosecuted criminally. And I think they need to be prosecuted civilly for the costs of containing and putting out these fires.

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