Red Flag Warning

Most of the Stateline -- save Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, and our Wisconsin counties -- are under a red flag warning until 8pm. Here's more form the NWS office in Romeoville:

WINNEBAGO-BOONE-MCHENRY-OGLE-LEE-DE KALB
108 PM CDT TUE MAR 20 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT /9 PM EDT/ THIS
EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND STRONG WINDS FOR ALL OF
NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ILLINOIS ALONG WITH NORTHWEST INDIANA
WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT /9 PM EDT/ THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...ALL OF NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST ILLINOIS
  ALONG WITH NORTHWEST INDIANA.

* WINDS...SOUTH 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* TIMING...THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR RAPID GROWTH OF WILD
  FIRES.

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 WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.