Critical fire danger alert: Red flag warning issued for Southeast Missouri

The National Weather Service has warned of a critical fire danger today.

The red flag warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for all of Southeast Missouri.

“Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged,” the NWS reports. “Unattended fires throughout the Quad State could quickly spread out of control today.”

Winds from the south will be 15-20 mph, gusting to 25-35 mph.

Relative humidity will drop to 19-29% through the afternoon and vegetation is already very dry.

Firefighters across the region have spent recent days fighting multiple grass, woods and wildfires.