Red Flag Warning extended through Sunday night amid extreme fire conditions

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A Red Flag Warning, originally set to end Sunday morning, has been extended until 9 p.m. Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service.

Utah remains under critical fire weather conditions. Any new fire starts or existing fires may spread rapidly, officials said.

Relative humidity is as low at 6% with “very poor overnight recoveries” overnight, the NWS said. Winds are blowing southwest at 10-20 mph, with gusts up to 30-35 mph, trending downwards by late Sunday night.

See below for a map of the affected areas:

Courtesy of National Weather Service

Here is a list of the affected fire areas, courtesy of the NWS:

• Fire Weather Zone 481 Western Ashley National
• Forest, Fire Weather Zone 482 Western Uintah Basin
• Fire Weather Zone 483 Southern Ashley National Forest
• Fire Weather Zone 484 Tavaputs Plateau
• Fire Weather Zone 489 San Rafael Swell
• Fire Weather Zone 492 Central Utah West Desert
• Fire Weather Zone 493 Central Utah Mountains
• Fire Weather Zone 494 Henry Mountains
• Fire Weather Zone 495 Color Country West Desert
• Fire Weather Zone 496 Color Country Mountains and Fire
• Weather Zone 498 Grand Staircase

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or are imminent, according to the NWS. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.