The National Weather Service issued a high alert for most of the Upper Midwest and parts of the Northern Plains on Monday as temperatures neared 100 degrees Fahrenheit and extremely dry conditions heightened the risk of wildfires in the area.
Unseasonably high temperatures, combined with relative humidity levels at or below 20 percent, have already contributed to wildfires across several states, where temperatures have approached or broken historical records.
In Minnesota, nearly all of the state’s 87 counties, except for seven, were placed under a red flag warning, indicating a high alert for wildfires, as reported by the state’s Department of Natural Resources.
The agency stated on social media, “Fire danger is extreme across the state due to hot, dry, and windy conditions. This is a dangerous time for wildfires.”
On Sunday, the temperature in the Twin Cities reached 90 degrees, surpassing the previous record of 88 degrees set in 1900. The heat wave is expected to persist until at least Wednesday, according to the Weather Service.
These conditions have already led to significant incidents near Brimson, Minnesota, where the Camp House fire has burned at least 750 acres since Sunday, according to the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center.
The fire has destroyed multiple cabins and prompted evacuations of dozens of residents, as confirmed by the St. Louis County sheriff’s department. No injuries have been reported, although a second wildfire is also burning in the county.
Currently, there are approximately 20 wildfires active in the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains, as noted by fireweatheravalanche.org.
In North Dakota, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians reminded residents on Sunday of a fire emergency declared earlier this month, which prohibits outdoor grilling. At the time of the emergency declaration, 13 fires were reported on the reservation.
A “critical” wildfire risk, the second level of severity on a three-level scale, was in effect from northern Nebraska to northwestern Minnesota on Monday, as indicated by the Storm Prediction Center. A broader area of lower-level risk extends across the Northern Plains.
Forecasters anticipate a day of low humidity, strong winds reaching up to 30 miles per hour, and record-setting temperatures in the high 90s, all of which contribute to an elevated fire risk for the afternoon and evening.
Further dry conditions and additional record temperatures are expected on Tuesday, leading to an “elevated” wildfire risk, the first level of severity, along the Red River at the border of the Dakotas and Minnesota, according to forecasters.