The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has issued a red flag warning and imposed burning restrictions for much of the state because of tinder-dry conditions.
The warning issued Sunday morning takes up most of south and western Minnesota, and areas of the northwestern part of the state.
"We have very dry humidity, the fuels (leaves and branches) are dry, and the winds are going to be 40-50 mile-per-hour gusts," said DNR wildfire prevention supervisor Alyssa Reynolds. "It makes for very dangerous fire conditions."
The warnings and restrictions are expected to remain in effect only for Sunday.
"We are expecting some rain later in the week," said Reynolds. "We'll be monitoring conditions and hope that rain does materialize and we'll be moving into a wetter weather pattern very soon."
There were several wildfires last week in Minnesota in conditions that were similar to Sunday's.
Those fires were put out with minimal damage.
The DNR will begin issuing burning permits in the affected counties once the restrictions are lifted.
Red flag alerts went out for the following counties:
Anoka, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wright, and Yellow Medicine.
Burning restriction went into effect in the following counties:
Anoka, Aitkin, Becker, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Chippewa, Chisago, Cottonwood, Crow Wing Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Isanti, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Mille Lacs, Meeker, Morrison, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pine, Pipestone, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, South St. Louis, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Winona, Wright, and Yellow Medicine.
