The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch for the Chicago area due to a combination of strong winds, dry air, and dry fuels. Outdoor burning is discouraged, and caution is advised when disposing of smoking materials. The watch is in effect from 12 p.m. Monday to 6 p.m. Monday.
Dry, gusty conditions in Northeastern Illinois prompted the National Weather Service to issue a fire weather watch for the entire Chicago area on Monday. Meteorologist Alicia Roman of NBC 5 reported that strong winds are anticipated to persist throughout Monday afternoon and into the evening, abating only during the overnight hours. The fire weather watch , in effect from 12 p.m. Monday until 6 p.m., encompasses all Chicago area counties as well as Lake County in Indiana.
According to the NWS, the watch was issued due to a confluence of 'strong winds, dry air, and dry fuels.' Roman noted that such watches are typically issued during the summer months. Southwest winds, potentially gusting over 40 mph, coupled with dry conditions, will heighten the fire danger this afternoon. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged, and caution should be exercised when disposing of smoking materials. The NWS cautioned that any grass or brush fires ignited could quickly escalate out of control. \The NWS explained that different parts of the country may have varying criteria for fire weather watches. In Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana, the conditions triggering a watch include sustained winds of 20 mph or higher at a height of 20 feet, afternoon relative humidity below 25%, and 10-hour fuel moisture at 8% or less for a duration of one day. The NWS projects temperatures in the low-to-mid 40s on Monday, with dewpoints in the upper single digits and low teens, resulting in minimum relative humidity values around 25%. The NWS cautioned that dewpoints might drop even lower than predicted, further decreasing relative humidity. If this occurs, the NWS could elevate the fire weather watch to a red flag warning. Officials informed that fire weather watches are issued 72 hours before anticipated conditions, while red flag warnings are issued when conditions are expected to occur or are currently underway within the next 24 hours. \A wind advisory, issued for Cook, DuPage, DeKalb, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties in Illinois, and Kenosha County in Wisconsin, complements the fire weather watch. This advisory, effective from 9 a.m. Monday until 6 p.m., warns of wind gusts potentially reaching 50 mph, particularly in northern and western areas. Southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected, with frequent gusts up to 45 mph. The NWS cautioned that such strong winds could topple unsecured objects and make driving challenging, especially for high-profile vehicles traveling north to south. There is a possibility of downed small or dead tree limbs and localized power outages
Fire Weather Watch Chicago Winds Dry Conditions Red Flag Warning Fire Danger Outdoor Burning
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