Red flag fire warnings will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today throughout eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota.
Calling it a "critical fire weather situation," the National Weather Service said the potential for rapid fire growth will be high because of dry conditions, including low relative humidity of about 20 percent and south to southerly winds between 15 and 30 mph, with gusts higher than 35 mph.
Relative humidity could drop as low as 17 percent in the region, while high afternoon temperatures of between 75 and 80 degrees.
Outdoor burning restrictions are in place through most of the valley, with burn bans in effect in Minnesota, as well as in Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina and Walsh counties in North Dakota.
The red flag fire warnings include the North Dakota counties of: Barnes, Benson, Cass, Cavalier, Eddy, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Pembina, Ramsey, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, Towner, Traill and Walsh.
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Minnesota counties in the red flag fire warning are: Clay, Becker, Beltrami, Clearwater, Grant, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, Wadena and Wilkin.
