Red flag fire weather warning issued for Washington County, surrounding area

WASHINGTON COUNTY – The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Warning for Washington County that will be in effect until 9 p.m. Saturday due to wind and relative low humidity.

Confidence is increasing that gusty winds will develop and combine with low relative humidity to bring critical fire weather conditions to much of southern Nevada and northwest Arizona Monday afternoon and evening. Fire weather watch in effect from Monday morning through Monday evening for strong winds and low relative humidity for fire weather zones indicated on the map.

Image courtesy of the National Weather Service
Image courtesy of the National Weather Service

Affected area

Fire weather zone 497 – Mojave Desert (consult the maps in this article).

In Arizona: Lake Mead, National Recreation Area, Colorado River, northwest deserts, northwest plateau

In Nevada: Lincoln County, Nye County deserts, sheep range, Spring Mountains, Clark County and southwest Lincoln County deserts, Lake Mead NRA and a Colorado River-Nevada side

Winds

Image courtesy of the National Weather Service
Image courtesy of the National Weather Service

Southwest winds up to 20 to 30 mph with gusts near 40 mph will continue into the evening then relax by approximately 10 p.m. Wind speeds will be below 25 mph until Monday afternoon when they will increase to 20 to 30 mph with gusts near 40 mph. Higher gusts will be possible near exposed ridges and canyon openings.

Relative humidity

Humidity values will drop below 10 percent Saturday and Monday afternoon.

Impacts

The combination of strong winds and low relative humidity is expected to 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

Related

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