Earlier this week, the NWS had a Red Flag (Fire Weather) Warning active for a few counties in far western Iowa. These warnings mean that ignited fires could uncontrollably spread due to low humidity, combustible ground surface, and strong winds. As the featured chart shows, it is an early start to the fire weather season. The chart depicts the period each year between the first and last such warning for somewhere in Iowa. The average start date is still some six weeks from now. For areas of the state without any snow cover, the recent dryness, windy and warmer conditions have increased the fire spreading threat. The near term forecast continues to be very dry and perhaps some of these warnings will again be necessary next week with expected warmer and windy conditions.

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