HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The National Weather Service office in Huntsville has issued a Red Flag Warning for all of North Alabama, in effect from 11 AM until 7 PM Sunday, signaling dangerous fire weather conditions across a wide swath of the region.
The warning, upgraded from a Fire Weather Watch earlier Sunday morning, covers twelve fire weather zones stretching from the Tennessee Valley to the southern Highland Rim.
What Counties Are Affected?
The Red Flag Warning covers the following counties:
Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan, Marshall, Jackson, DeKalb, Winston, and Cullman.
Why Was the Warning Issued?
Forecasters cite a combination of southerly winds and low relative humidity as the primary drivers behind the elevated fire danger. Winds are expected from the south at 5 to 10 mph, with relative humidity dropping as low as 29 percent during the afternoon hours. Under those conditions, any fire that ignites — whether from a downed power line, a discarded cigarette, or outdoor burning — could spread rapidly and become difficult to control.
What Should Residents Do?
The National Weather Service is urging residents across North Alabama to obey any local burn bans currently in place and to avoid any outdoor burning until the warning expires at 7 PM Sunday evening. Conditions are expected to be most dangerous during the midday and afternoon hours…