The Chicago area’s fire weather watch has been upgraded to a “red flag warning,” caused by a combination of weather factors that create prime conditions for wildfires.
What’s happening?
According to WMAQ, the fire weather watch was upgraded to a “red flag” warning at 10 a.m. Wednesday and is expected to last until at least 8 p.m., possibly leading into Thursday. The strongest winds and highest risk areas are west of the Fox Valley and along Interstate 55.
Red flag warnings are issued when the risk of wildfires is high due to warmer temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity levels. The Chicago region is currently experiencing temperatures as high as 64 degrees, winds as strong as 45 mph, and humidity below 20%, according to NBC 5.
Why is this red flag warning important?
Wildfires are immensely dangerous and can injure or kill people. Los Angeles’s horrific wildfires last year showed how severe the loss of life can be due to these conditions, killing hundreds of people.
Even in cases where no one is injured or killed, wildfires still wreck communities and ruin people’s livelihoods. Homes and businesses are damaged or destroyed, leaving people without a place to live and no way to support themselves or their families…