Elevated Fire Danger, High Winds Continues Tuesday For Chicago Area

ILLINOIS — Strong winds, low relative humidity and mild temperatures will bring another day of heightened fire danger on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

In a special weather statement, the weather service said quicker drying and dormant fuels like brush and grass will be particularly susceptible to ignition from strong winds.

On Monday night, a fire burned 34 acres in a Cook County forest preserve, and a Sunday afternoon fire burned nearly 50 acres in Plainfield.

The weather service has also issued a wind advisory for areas along and north of Interstate 80 for the wind gusts up to 55 mph. The strongest winds will be north of I-80, especially near and north of Interstate 88, the weather service said. The wind advisory is in effect from 2 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

The mild temperatures have also brought an increased risk of localized ice jam flooding starting Friday and into the weekend, according to the weather service.

"A storm system is likely to bring rainfall to the region late Thursday into Friday. There is still a great deal of uncertainty in how much rain will fall, but current indications are that many areas will see at least a quarter to half inch of rain," the weather service said. "Depending on the track and strength of the storm system, some areas could see heavier rainfall totals of a half inch to one inch."

The high for Tuesday is 51 degrees, 44 on Wednesday, 48 on Thursday and 44 on Friday.