As strong wind, dryness and heat converge, the National Weather Service issued a Wednesday fire weather watch for Chicagoland and counties across north and central Illinois.
The warning flags conditions “favorable for the rapid spread of wildfires,” the weather service said. Dryness and unseasonable warmth pose an increased risk of brush and grass fires igniting, the agency said in its alert.
“Strong and gusty winds on Wednesday will cause any fires that do occur to spread rapidly and become difficult to control,” the agency wrote.
The warning is in effect from 11 a.m. through 7 p.m. Wednesday. It affects Boone, DeKalb, DuPage, Cook, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Will and Winnebago counties.
It also affects northwestern Indiana counties, including Benton, Jasper Lake, Newton and Porter.
“Use extreme caution with outdoor burning and when disposing of smoking materials,” the agency warned.
The Wednesday warning is prompted by 15 to 20 mph winds with gusts up to 35 mph, humidity as low as 20% and highs predicted to surpass 80 degrees in Chicago.
The weather service also flagged an elevated fire weather risk from Tuesday through Thursday, though Wednesday was the only date listed as having a “significant fire weather risk.”
“While not as windy as Wednesday, breezy and dry conditions Thursday will continue to present an elevated risk for quickly spreading brush fires,” the agency said.
National Weather Service forecasts show warm temperatures lasting through Thursday with the high predicted to be 82 degrees in Chicago. High temperatures are expected to drop into the low 70s Friday and Saturday, with a chance for rain showers and likely thunderstorms Saturday.
