It’s St. Patrick’s Day weekend! We have been hoping for warm weather since we arranged our plans months ago, and it looks like our wish came true. However, although the temperature is nearing 70 degrees today, stepping outside might not be a good idea. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of Chicago and surrounding areas, predicting wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour. This warning follows wind advisories and high wind watches issued for the Chicago area on Friday and Saturday.
What does a Red Flag Warning in Chicago mean?
According to the National Weather Service, a Red Flag Warning is issued when a combination of dry fuels and weather conditions creates an extreme fire danger. For northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, the criteria for a Red Flag Warning include sustained winds at 20 feet of 20 mph or higher, relative humidity below 25%, and 10-hour fuel moisture at 8% or lower.
When and where is a Red Flag warning in effect?
The warning is in effect from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. CT on Friday for the following counties:
- McHenry
- DeKalb
- Kane
- DuPage
- LaSalle
- Kendall
- Grundy
- Will
- Kankakee
Is there a wind advisory and watch for Chicago?
Yes, Chicago is under a wind advisory from 4 p.m. Friday until 1 a.m. Saturday, with gusts up to 50 mph expected. A high wind watch follows from Saturday morning through the afternoon, with potential gusts up to 60 mph.