UPDATE: A red flag warning has been extended for leeward and interior areas of the Big Island through Friday evening due to the ongoing threat of extreme fire conditions.
Gusty winds in combination with dry fuels and low relative humidity levels will cause elevated fire danger through 6 p.m. Friday. Any fires that develop will spread rapidly and be difficult to control, the National Weather Service cautioned.
Tradewinds of 15 to 30 mph with locally higher gusts reaching 45 mph are forecast. Humidity is expected to be around 40% to 45% during the afternoon hours.
Officials cautioned that winds are expected to be even stronger this weekend. If relative humidity remains low, the warning will be extended.
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. The warning does not predict new fire starts.
Original story published Wednesday afternoon:
A red flag warning has been posted for leeward areas of the Big Island through Thursday afternoon due to the threat of extreme fire conditions.
Gusty winds in combination with dry fuels and low relative humidity levels will cause elevated fire danger through 6 p.m. Thursday. Any fires that develop will spread rapidly and be difficult to control, the National Weather Service cautioned.
Tradewinds of 15 to 25 mph with locally higher gusts reaching 35 mph are forecast. Humidity is expected to be around 40% to 45% during the afternoon hours.
Officials cautioned that winds are expected to be even stronger this weekend. If relative humidity remains low, the warning will be extended.
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. The warning does not predict new fire starts.