The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for leeward areas of Hawaii Island. Areas covered by the warning include North and South Kohala, North and South Kona, and Ka‘u Districts, as well as interior areas of Hawaii Island.
The red flag warning, which is in effect until 6 p.m. this evening, means a combination of strong winds, low humidity and dry vegetation can contribute to extreme fire conditions.
Northeast winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts of over 50 mph are expected, and much of the leeward Big Island is in severe drought.
Under these conditions, wildfires may spread rapidly and be difficult to contain.
Due to the red flag warning, the public is strongly encouraged to avoid all outdoor activity that involve an open flame and outdoor burning through this period. And please avoid parking of vehicles on dry grass after travel, as sparks from a car’s undercarriage can spark a wildfire.