3/17/14 – A weather system and cold front approaching from the north will bring strong west to southwest winds to much of northern Arizona today gennerally along and north of interstate 40. A wind advisory is in effect through this evening for winds of 20-30 MPH with gusts up to 50-55 MPH. Blowing dust is likly in the Chinle Valley with areas of blowing dust also possible in the Little Colorado River Valley and Marble and Glen Canyons.

In addition the combination of strong winds and low relative humidity will produce critical fire weather conditions for Northeast Arizona below 8000 feet. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for this area through the evening.

…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT ON MONDAY FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MST FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FLAGSTAFF HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT ON MONDAY FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MST (NOON TO 8 PM MDT).

* AFFECTED AREA…NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST ARIZONA INCLUDING

THE LITTLE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY AND THE NAVAJO AND HOPI

NATIONS. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE AREAS ABOVE 8000 FEET ELEVATION

WHERE FUELS ARE STILL MOIST.

* TIMING…DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP LATE MONDAY

MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY EVENING.

* 20 FOOT WINDS…WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS 40 TO 50 MPH.

* MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY…7 TO 10 PERCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING OR ARE IMMINENT. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST THIS EVENING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FLAGSTAFF HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST THIS EVENING.

* TIMING…WINDS WILL INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO

THIS EVENING.

* WINDS…NORTH TO NORTHWEST 25 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45

MPH.

* IMPACTS…WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT…

ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 39 MPH…OR GUSTS FROM 40 TO 57 MPH…ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT…ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

CONSIDER SECURING LOOSE BELONGINGS ON YOUR PROPERTY. ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION IS ON THE WEB AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/FLAGSTAFF.