Minnesota Weather: Red Flag Warning Issued

TWIN CITIES, MN — Extreme fire conditions Monday have resulted in the National Weather Service issuing a Red Flag warning for the following counties:

Anoka, Benton, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Chisago, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Nicollet, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wright, and Yellow Medicine.

A Red Flag warning means the area is experiencing critical weather conditions that are ideal for wildfire, including strong winds and minimum humidity values. Authorities say you should not burn while the Red Flag warning remains in effect and should check any burning done recently to ensure the fire is out.

Any spark could become a wildfire under Red Flag conditions, officials warned in a news release.

The Red Flag warning expires at 6 p.m.