Is Your Area Under a Red Flag Warning? Here’s What You Need to Know

When it comes to special weather alerts, there are different levels of danger, which makes it important to pay attention when one is announced in your area.

From watches to warnings, each alert announced by your local weather authorities has a special meaning and usually comes with instructions you'll need to follow to stay safe.

While things like tornado watches and thunderstorm warnings are common enough that most people know what they mean, lesser-known alerts may give you pause. That's especially true of Red Flag Warnings, which are rarer but just as important.

Keep reading as I explain what it means when a Red Flag Warning is issued and what you need to do when one is placed in your region.

First, it's important to note that "Red Flag Warning" has two common uses. The first happens at the beach when it's decided that the water is unsafe for swimmers due to strong currents or dangerous surf conditions.

The second common usage, which we're talking about today, is issued when there is an elevated fire risk. 

According to Weather.com, different things can prompt a Red Flag Warning, and they typically include low humidity, winds that maintain a speed of 15 miles per hour or higher for at least a few hours, and dried or dead vegetation.

These conditions make an area particularly vulnerable to catching fire. Because issues like this are typically widespread, a small spark could have the potential to start a massive fire that could burn uncontrollably.

As such, Red Flag Warnings are more common during fire season, and you'll typically see them issued during the spring and fall.

When these warnings are posted, it's important to follow any directions from your local municipalities, which could include things like burn bans and restrictions on certain types of equipment use until the Red Flag Warning has been lifted.

Unfortunately, climate change causes more extreme weather patterns, which can produce the conditions that create the perfect storm for increased fire risks. That's why some regions that may not be used to being under these warnings may start hearing about them more often, especially as the impact of climate change continues to become more widespread.

Many areas of the U.S. were placed under a Red Flag Warning during the final week of February 2025, when widespread high winds put several regions in danger of increased fire activity.

Multiple states, including Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota, were given "urgent fire warnings," according to USA Today.

Meanwhile, multiple other states were under wind advisories, as 20-30 mile per hour winds were expected at month's end.That, coupled with regional droughts and increasing temperatures, may make some areas more prone to fire hazards than others.

If your area is under a Red Flag Alert, please tune in to your local news to get the most up-to-date information. If you're looking for hyper-local instructions, you can also contact your municipality officials for further instructions.