Area counties see Red Flag warnings, including Nobles

Eighteen counties in southwest and west central Minnesota — among them Nobles County — were under a Red Flag warning from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday due to extreme fire risk conditions. The warning means fires can spread quickly and grow out of control with strong winds and low humidity levels.

The affected counties were Nobles, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone and Rock, along with Big Stone, Chippewa, Douglas, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Stevens, Swift, Traverse and Yellow Medicine.

Red Flag warnings are also possible Friday, though there is a chance of scattered thunderstorms. In Nobles County, northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph, with occasional gusts over 40 mph, are in the forecast.