URGENT - Red Flag fire warnings in effect today

Red Flag Warning

From the National Weather Service

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA

525 AM EDT TUE APR 17 2012

...MILD AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL PROMOTE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER

CONDITIONS...

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>022-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>007-171730-/O.CON.KBOX.FW.W.0010.120417T1600Z-120418T0000Z/HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-CHESHIRE NH-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-

BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-525 AM EDT TUE APR 17 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR MOST OF MASSACHUSETTS...MOST OF RHODE ISLAND...NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...

* AFFECTED AREA...MOST OF MASSACHUSETTS EXCEPT NANTUCKET AND  MARTHAS VINEYARD...MOST OF RHODE ISLAND EXCEPT BLOCK  ISLAND...NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH...HIGHEST  ACROSS INTERIOR AREAS.

* TIMING...STRONGEST WIND GUSTS AND LOWEST HUMIDITIES WILL  DEVELOP ON TUESDAY FROM MIDDAY INTO THE LATE AFTERNOON.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 15 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...MAX TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S ARE  EXPECTED.

* IMPACTS...DRY WEATHER AND GUSTY WINDS WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL  FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE AN ELEVATED FIRE SPREAD POTENTIAL.