Iowa faced red flag warning Thursday

The majority of the state was under a red flag warning Thursday according to the Iowa Grassland Fire Danger Index released by the National Weather Service (NWS).

The NWS describes a red flag warning as, 'A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures that can contribute to extreme fire behavior.”

The warning was in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday night due to strong winds combined with lower humidity levels. The mild temperatures southeast Iowa has experienced also contributed to the danger of grassland fires, according to the NWS.

The highest threat was in areas south of Interstate 80 but an elevated risk for those north of the area up to Highway 30, but due to the lower humidity levels the risk was less severe, according to the NWS. On Thursday, two counties were deemed at a low risk, one at moderate, two at high, 33 at very high and 61 at an extreme risk.

The NWS reported wind speeds for Henry, Jefferson and Washington counties were predicted to reach as high as 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph and humidity dropping to around 25 percent.

Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen said the red flag warning is a rarity, but becomes more common in spring. Reisen advised people to take normal safety precautions for high winds and not to burn anything.

The reason for the warning, she said, was to draw attention to the risk of prairie fires. Anything as small as a cigarette but flicked out of a window during these conditions could start a fire.