First red flag warning of 2021 issued for Uinta Basin

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City branch of the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a red flag warning for the Uinta Basin, the first such warning for 2021 the agency said.

1PM – Our first Red Flag Warning of 2021 went into effect at noon today for the Uinta Basin. Two sites are already reporting humidity values below 15% and wind gusts 25 mph or greater, which are critical fire weather conditions. Exercise extra caution to prevent fire starts #utwx pic.twitter.com/3n6zPzTXbN

— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) April 4, 2021

A red flag warning means that conditions like temperature, humidity, and wind are expected to combine and could pose an increased risk of fire danger. 

The NWS says these conditions now exist and could combine for an early start to the fire season in southwest Utah, the Uinta Basin, as well as the Henry Mountains.

The agency says these conditions could remain in eastern Utah until Tuesday.

But a cold front is expected to move through the state beginning late Monday into Tuesday. It could bring light snow to the northern Utah mountains and will return temperatures back to more seasonal expectations.

A red flag warning also directs residents to proceed with extreme caution if they are allowed to burn (in burn barrels) in their area. 

Cigarettes should be extinguished inside a vehicle instead of being tossed outside the window.  Throwing them out of a window could ignite dry grass and start a wildfire.

And all outdoor fires must be extinguished properly, by drowning fire with plenty of water and stirring the ashes to assure everything is cold to the touch.

RELATED READING:

• What to do if you find yourself trapped by wildfire while driving

• Church volunteers assist with wildfire efforts in Oregon

• Out of state wildfire smoke expected to build this weekend along the Wasatch Front

 

Follow @SimoneSeikaly