Seven Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches are active across Arizona, Florida, Montana, and North Dakota, with the National Weather Service citing dangerously low humidity and strong winds capable of rapidly spreading any fires that ignite.
The broadest coverage is across North Dakota, where the National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a Fire Weather Watch covering more than a dozen counties — including Towner, Cavalier, Benson, Ramsey, Eddy, Nelson, and Western Walsh — in effect from Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening. A separate watch from the same office extends into central North Dakota, covering Divide, Burke, Renville, Bottineau, Rolette, Williams, Mountrail, Ward, McHenry, Pierce, McKenzie, Dunn, Mercer, McLean, Sheridan, Wells, Golden Valley, and Billings counties. The National Weather Service warns that a cold front approaching from the west will drive winds of 15 to 30 mph with gusts reaching 40 mph, while relative humidity drops to between 20 and 30 percent — conditions the agency describes as critical for fire weather.
In Montana, the National Weather Service in Glasgow has issued a Fire Weather Watch covering fire weather zones 120 and 122, including the Fort Peck Reservation and portions of Daniels, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Dawson, McCone, Prairie, Richland, and Wibaux counties. That watch runs from Sunday morning through Sunday evening. West to northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph, gusting to 35 mph, are expected, with humidity falling as low as 10 to 15 percent — among the most extreme values in this outbreak. The National Weather Service states that any fires developing under those conditions will likely spread rapidly and advises against outdoor burning.
Alerts are also active across a wide swath of south-central Florida, affecting Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee, Osceola, and portions of Palm Beach, Broward, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Brevard counties. In Arizona, Maricopa County is included under the active alert footprint.
For residents in Phoenix weather and across the broader Southwest, fire danger is a persistent concern this time of year, but Sunday’s combination of wind and low humidity elevates risk well above baseline levels.
The National Weather Service emphasizes that Fire Weather Watches indicate critical fire weather conditions are forecast — not yet occurring — and that watches may be upgraded to Red Flag Warnings as conditions approach. Residents in affected areas are urged to monitor updated forecasts and avoid any activity that could spark a fire.
No large fires or evacuations were reported in the data available at the time of publication. Conditions are expected to ease after the cold front passes Sunday evening across the northern Plains.