OTTAWA — A burn ban was posted for Franklin County earlier this week. Burn bans you know about. Red-flag warnings, you may not know about. But state climatologist Mary Knapp says you will. You may hear a bunch of them this winter instead of the sundry winter-storm or blizzard warning. Red flag warnings are common to the forested areas in the western U.S., she said. But with the possible milder, drier La Nina winter, Great Plains residents may hear more of them this winter, she said. A red flag warning is one step above “extreme range fire” warnings, she said. Red flag warnings are issued for critical fire weather conditions including strong winds, dry conditions and warm temperatures that offer an explosive fire potential, she said. Any spark can create devastating fires so extreme caution is needed, Knapp said.
Thursday, Nov. 11, 10:30 a.m.
