HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss — Wildfires burning in Mississippi combined with low humidity and a southward wind could cause air quality problems for the Gulf Coast.
According to NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System map, four large wildfires are burning in Mississippi impacting the Wilkinson, Amite, Pike, Walthall, Pearl River, Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson county areas.
Combining that with a wind blowing south could impact air quality for the Louisiana/Mississippi Gulf Coast area.
The National Weather Service in New Orleans has issued a Red Flag Warning due to low humidity conditions and a south-by-southeast wind.
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are occurring. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
The National Weather Service has issued the following warning:
RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR SOUTHWEST AND
COASTAL MISSISSIPPI...
The National Weather Service in New Orleans has issued a Red Flag
Warning for critical fire weather conditions, which is in effect
from noon today to 7 PM CDT this evening.
* AFFECTED AREA...Wilkinson, Amite, Pike, Walthall, Pearl River,
Hancock, Harrison and Jackson.
* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 22 percent.
* IMPACTS...Fires can spread more rapidly in these conditions.
Avoid outdoor burning if not authorized to do so.
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