red flag warning

red_flag_warning

red_flag_warning

A red flag warning is a forecast warning issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States to inform the public, firefighters, and land management agencies that conditions are ideal for wildfire combustion, and rapid spread. It is a form of emergency alert.

These include drought conditions or a dry season, very low humidity, high or erratic winds, and the possibility of lightning. Firefighting agencies often respond to such a warning by altering their staffing and equipment resources dramatically. To the public, the warning means high fire danger with increased probability of a quickly spreading vegetation fire in the area within 24 hours.