Fire weather watch issued for Cook County, other parts of northern Minnesota, beginning Thursday
Oct 16, 2024 03:04PM ● By Content Editor
Photo: Maxim Tajer on Unsplash.com
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - October 16, 2024
In a familiar trend, gusty winds and low relative humidity are forecasted for the area on Thursday, resulting in near-critical to critical fire conditions. The National Weather Service in Duluth has issued a fire weather watch for Cook County from Thursday morning through Thursday evening. Koochiching, Lake, Itasca, St. Louis, Cass, South Itasca, Crow Wing, Aitkin, Carlton and
Pine Counties are also included in the watch.
Winds coming out of the south at 10-20 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph are expected. Relative humidity levels will be as low as 25%, and any fire could spread rapidly.
Despite the much-needed rain last weekend, Cook County remains in a severe drought (as of last week), along with moderate fire danger (updated 10/16). Burn restrictions and bans are still in place for the area, including Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Burn permits will not be issued by the MN DNR until conditions improve.
The dry weather and gusty winds have been a factor in the expansion of many recent wildfires thought to be human-caused.
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - October 16, 2024
In a familiar trend, gusty winds and low relative humidity are forecasted for the area on Thursday, resulting in near-critical to critical fire conditions. The National Weather Service in Duluth has issued a fire weather watch for Cook County from Thursday morning through Thursday evening. Koochiching, Lake, Itasca, St. Louis, Cass, South Itasca, Crow Wing, Aitkin, Carlton and
Pine Counties are also included in the watch.
Winds coming out of the south at 10-20 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph are expected. Relative humidity levels will be as low as 25%, and any fire could spread rapidly.
Despite the much-needed rain last weekend, Cook County remains in a severe drought (as of last week), along with moderate fire danger (updated 10/16). Burn restrictions and bans are still in place for the area, including Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Burn permits will not be issued by the MN DNR until conditions improve.
The dry weather and gusty winds have been a factor in the expansion of many recent wildfires thought to be human-caused.
