10-05-2025
Minnesota vulnerable to 'rapid fire spread' Saturday-Tuesday
The National Weather Service continues to warn of dangerous fire weather conditions developing in Minnesota amid a hot and dry stretch that begins Saturday and will last through Tuesday.
"The combination of gusty winds and low [relative humidity] will create a favorable setup for rapid fire spread when paired with the vulnerable state of dry fuels across much of Minnesota," says the forecast discussion from the NWS Twin Cities.
Red flag warnings have been issued in northwest Minnesota from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday due to "extreme fire danger." Counties in the warning include Beltrami, Clearwater, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau.
Red flag warnings mean rapid fire spread is possible, with grassfires and wildfires burning out of control due to high winds and low humidity. Residents within the red flag warning are advised not to burn, and campfires are discouraged.
'When fire risk is this high it's important to be careful with anything could spark a wildfire,' said Karen Harrison, DNR wildfire prevention specialist.
The elevated fire conditions expand Sunday through Tuesday as heat builds. Sixty-one of Minnesota's 87 counties are under a fire weather watch on Sunday.
High temps on Mother's Day could break records that are 100+ years old. Temps will soar into the upper 80s and 90s across much of Minnesota, with the heat bubbling up the highest in North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota.
Monday and Tuesday will bring similar temperatures and dry air to the region before things start to cool down Wednesday into Thursday.
"To summarize, a multi-day period of dangerous fire weather conditions remains likely Sunday through Tuesday due to [relative humidity] as low as 15 percent, sustained winds between 15-25 mph, and gusts up to 35 mph," the NWS Twin Cities says.
"We encourage folks to stay tuned for local information regarding burn bans and avoid activities that involves open flames/sparks."
