MEDIA RELEASE

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a Red Flag Warning due to critical fire weather conditions from noon today through 6 p.m. this evening. The warning is for the Ka‘u, Kona, Kohala, Big Island interior areas along with Leeward areas of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai and Maui.

Relative humidity is forecast to be as low as 45 percent. Winds are forecast to be 15-25 mph with gusts of up to 45 mph in Ka‘u, 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph in Kona, 20-30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph in Waikoloa and Kohala, 10-35 mph with gusts up to 35 mph in the Saddle Road area above 5,000 feet.

Although rain has fallen overnight on much of the state drier air is forecast to move over the island this afternoon.

A Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or will shortly due to strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures. The warning does not predict new fire starts.