Red Flag Warning/Critical Fire Danger Continues For Most Of Maine

Today, Friday, May 22nd, the fire danger in Maine is "critical."  Please be safe, as conditions are just right for a major forest fire to occur.

Conditions are just right for a fire to begin, and if it did, it could be catastrophic to our beloved Maine woods and the creatures that inhabit them.

The National Weather Service has issued yet another Red Flag Warning for most of Maine today.  Normally, a Red Flag Warning occurs every other year here in Maine, but this year the conditions are dry and windy enough for it to be issued two days in a row.

The Red Flag Warning will remain in effect until 9 tonight, but conditions will be at their worst this afternoon.  See the map below for where the Red Flag Warning is active.

Here are the conditions expected this afternoon.

* Winds...West 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 17 to 20 percent.

* Temperatures... Ranging from the low to mid 70s across northern Maine, to the mid to upper 80s across Interior Downeast Maine. Highs in the 80s for the Western Mountains

* Impacts...Dry and breezy weather, and dry surface fuels may lead to extensive fire occurrence or rapid fire growth during the day.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.