An elevated fire danger warning is in effect this morning across a wide region that includes Jackson County, Johnson County, Cedar County, Clinton County, Muscatine County, Scott County, Keokuk County, Washington County, Louisa County, Jefferson County, Henry County, Des Moines County, Van Buren County, Lee County, Jo Daviess County, Stephenson County, Carroll County, Whiteside County, Rock Island County, Henry County, Bureau County, Putnam County, Mercer County, Henderson County, Warren County, Hancock County, McDonough County, Scotland County, and Clark County, along with communities such as Maquoketa, Iowa City, Tipton, Clinton, Muscatine, Davenport, Bettendorf, Sigourney, Washington, Wapello, Fairfield, Mount Pleasant, Burlington, Keosauqua, Fort Madison, Galena, Freeport, Mount Carroll, Sterling, Moline, Rock Island, Geneseo, Princeton, Hennepin, Aledo, Oquawka, Monmouth, Carthage, Macomb, Memphis, and Kahoka.
Gusty south to southwest winds are expected to reach 30 to 40 miles per hour from late morning through early afternoon before gradually easing as a cold front approaches from the west. Combined with mild temperatures, low humidity, and very dry ground conditions, these winds will create an environment where fires can ignite easily, spread quickly, and become difficult to control, especially between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Officials strongly discourage outdoor burning and urge residents to use extreme caution with any activity that could spark flames, including operating equipment near dry vegetation or improperly discarding smoking materials.
https://inws.ncep.noaa.gov/a/a.php?i=124354680
