Red Flag Warning 1, NWS New Orleans, LA

000 
WWUS84 KLIX 080333
RFWLIX

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
933 PM CST THU DEC 7 2006

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR FRIDAY...

.A VERY DRY ARCTIC AIRMASS WILL DROP RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS
WELL BELOW NORMAL LEVELS FRIDAY. STRONG NORTH WINDS WILL ALSO AID
IN RAPID SPREAD OF ANY IGNIITIONS.

LAZ034>040-046>050-056>070-MSZ068>071-077-080>082-081245-
/O.CON.KLIX.FW.W.0001.061208T1400Z-061209T0000Z/
POINTE COUPEE-WEST FELICIANA-EAST FELICIANA-ST. HELENA-TANGIPAHOA-
WASHINGTON-ST. TAMMANY-IBERVILLE-WEST BATON ROUGE-
EAST BATON ROUGE-ASCENSION-LIVINGSTON-ASSUMPTION-ST. JAMES-
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST-UPPER LAFOURCHE-ST. CHARLES-UPPER JEFFERSON-
ORLEANS-UPPER PLAQUEMINES-UPPER ST. BERNARD-UPPER TERREBONNE-
LOWER TERREBONNE-LOWER LAFOURCHE-LOWER JEFFERSON-
LOWER PLAQUEMINES-LOWER ST. BERNARD-WILKINSON-AMITE-PIKE-WALTHALL-
PEARL RIVER-HANCOCK-HARRISON-JACKSON-
933 PM CST THU DEC 7 2006

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM TO 6 PM CST
FRIDAY...

IN COORDINATION WITH THE STATES OF MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW ORLEANS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING EFFECTIVE FROM 8 AM TO 6 PM CST FRIDAY. THIS WARNING WAS ISSUED
DUE TO THE EXPECTED COMBINATION OF EXTREMELY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
VALUES AND STRONG WINDS WHICH WILL RESULT IN A HIGH RISK OF
WILDFIRE IGNITION AND SPREAD.

PERSONS ACROSS THE WARNED AREA SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ANY TYPE OF
OUTDOORS BURNING...INCLUDING OPEN FIELD BURNING...TRASH BURNING
AND OPEN PIT FIRES.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND DRY GROUND FUELS WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$

000 
WWUS84 KLIX 081257
RFWLIX

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
657 AM CST FRI DEC 8 2006

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY...

.A VERY DRY ARCTIC AIRMASS WILL DROP RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS
WELL BELOW NORMAL LEVELS FRIDAY. STRONG NORTH WINDS WILL ALSO AID
IN RAPID SPREAD OF ANY IGNITIONS.

LAZ034>040-046>050-056>070-MSZ068>071-077-080>082-090000-
/O.CON.KLIX.FW.W.0001.061208T1400Z-061209T0000Z/
POINTE COUPEE-WEST FELICIANA-EAST FELICIANA-ST. HELENA-TANGIPAHOA-
WASHINGTON-ST. TAMMANY-IBERVILLE-WEST BATON ROUGE-
EAST BATON ROUGE-ASCENSION-LIVINGSTON-ASSUMPTION-ST. JAMES-
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST-UPPER LAFOURCHE-ST. CHARLES-UPPER JEFFERSON-
ORLEANS-UPPER PLAQUEMINES-UPPER ST. BERNARD-UPPER TERREBONNE-
LOWER TERREBONNE-LOWER LAFOURCHE-LOWER JEFFERSON-
LOWER PLAQUEMINES-LOWER ST. BERNARD-WILKINSON-AMITE-PIKE-WALTHALL-
PEARL RIVER-HANCOCK-HARRISON-JACKSON-
657 AM CST FRI DEC 8 2006

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON...

IN COORDINATION WITH THE STATES OF MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SLIDELL HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING EFFECTIVE TODAY. THIS WARNING WAS ISSUED DUE TO THE
EXPECTED COMBINATION OF EXTREMELY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES AND
STRONG WINDS WHICH WILL RESULT IN A HIGH RISK OF WILDFIRE IGNITION
AND SPREAD.

PERSONS ACROSS THE WARNED AREA SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ANY TYPE OF
OUTDOORS BURNING...INCLUDING OPEN FIELD BURNING...TRASH BURNING
AND OPEN PIT FIRES.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND DRY GROUND FUELS WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

$$

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
438 AM CST THU DEC 7 2006

.DISCUSSION...
ANOTHER ARCTIC COLD FRONT IS SURGING SOUTH THROUGH THE OZARKS AND
OKLAHOMA WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING INTO THE TEENS IN KS AND MO
WITH BELOW ZERO READINGS IN NORTHERN NE. SURFACE PRESSURES ARE
AS HIGH AS 1046 MB IN SD. THE DEEP UPPER TROUGH DRIVING THIS
ARCTIC AIR SOUTH IS MOVING THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES INTO THE LOWER
MS VALLEY...AND THIS TROUGH WILL CONTINUE EAST TODAY WITH THE COLD
FRONT DRIVING THROUGH THE CENTRAL GULF COAST REGION BY MIDDAY
TODAY.

ONCE AGAIN...THE MAIN CONCERNS WITH THIS WILL BE FREEZING
TEMPERATURES TONIGHT...A HARD FREEZE IN THE SAME AREAS THAT HAD A
HARD FREEZE TUESDAY MORNING. THE DIFFERENCE THIS TIME IS THIS
FREEZE WILL BE WIND DRIVEN...SO IT WILL BE MORE OF A PROBLEM FOR
UNWRAPPED WATER PIPES IN ADDITION TO SENSITIVE VEGETATION AND
OUTDOOR PETS AND LIVESTOCK. THE COLD AND WIND WILL PUSH WIND CHILL
READINGS DOWN TO THE LOWEST LEVELS OF THE SEASON...INTO THE MID
TEENS...JUST BARELY ABOVE OUR LOCAL WIND CHILL ADVISORY CRITERIA
OF 13 DEGREES OR LOWER FOR 2 HOURS OR LONGER. WILL GO WITH A
FREEZE WARNING ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT WITH A HARD FREEZE
EXPECTED NORTH OF A DONALDSONVILLE TO SLIDELL TO MS COAST LINE.
THE SOUTH SHORE WILL BE NEAR FREEZING ALONG THE LAKEFRONT...WITH
COLDER UPPER 20S WEST AND SOUTHWEST OF METRO NEW ORLEANS.

FRIDAY WILL BE COLD WITH THE STRONG HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVER
THE AREA. THE WIND WILL DIE OFF FRIDAY NIGHT...BUT THERE MAY BE
SOME HIGH CLOUDS SPREADING IN...MAINLY LATE. WILL HAVE
TEMPERATURES JUST AS COLD FRIDAY NIGHT AS TONIGHT...BUT IT WILL
NOT FEEL AS COLD WITH LESS WIND. VERY LOW DEWPOINT TEMPS IN THE
SINGLE DIGITS SHOULD OFFSET ANY INSULATION FROM HIGH CLOUDS.

A WARMING TREND IS EXPECTED OVER THE WEEKEND AS THE AIRMASS
MODIFIES AND THE SURFACE HIGH BECOMES CENTERED OVER THE ATLANTIC
COAST. A SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVING ACROSS THE AREA MAY BRING A
SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN ON SUNDAY...OTHERWISE IT WILL REMAIN DRY.

NEXT WEEK...THE ECMWF AND GFS INDICATE A POTENT SHORTWAVE TROUGH
WILL MOVE ACROSS THE PLAINS INTO THE MS VALLEY DURING THE TUESDAY
THROUGH WEDNESDAY. HAVE GONE CLOSER THE SLOWER ECMWF SOLUTION.
WILL HAVE BETTER CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE
MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT PERIODS.

&&

.MARINE...
STRONG SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP TODAY WITH
GUSTS ABOVE GALE FORCE EXPECTED OVER THE COASTAL WATERS TONIGHT
AND FRIDAY MORNING. IT WILL STAY BREEZY THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
RELATIVE HUMIDITY READINGS WILL DROP BELOW 20 PERCENT FRIDAY. A
FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MCB  58  24  47  22 /  10   0   0   0
BTR  59  25  49  25 /  10   0   0   0
MSY  60  30  47  31 /  10   0   0   0
GPT  62  26  47  25 /  10   0   0   0

&&

.LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...FREEZE WARNING FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM CST FRIDAY FOR LAZ056-LAZ057-
     LAZ058-LAZ059-LAZ060-LAZ061-LAZ062-LAZ063-LAZ064-LAZ065-
     LAZ066-LAZ067-LAZ068-LAZ069-LAZ070.

     FREEZE WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 AM CST FRIDAY FOR
     LAZ034-LAZ035-LAZ036-LAZ037-LAZ038-LAZ039-LAZ040-LAZ046-
     LAZ047-LAZ048-LAZ049-LAZ050.

     FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
     FOR LAZ034-LAZ035-LAZ036-LAZ037-LAZ038-LAZ039-LAZ040-LAZ046-
     LAZ047-LAZ048-LAZ049-LAZ050.

GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM CST FRIDAY FOR GMZ530-GMZ550-
     GMZ555-GMZ570-GMZ575.

MS...FREEZE WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 AM CST FRIDAY FOR
     MSZ068-MSZ069-MSZ070-MSZ071-MSZ077-MSZ080-MSZ081-MSZ082.

     FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
     FOR MSZ068-MSZ069-MSZ070-MSZ071-MSZ077-MSZ080-MSZ081-MSZ082.

GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM CST FRIDAY FOR GMZ530-GMZ550-
     GMZ555-GMZ570-GMZ575.

&&

22

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1132 AM CST THU DEC 7 2006

LAZ034>040-046>050-056>070-MSZ068>071-077-080>082-081230-
AMITE-ASCENSION-ASSUMPTION-EAST BATON ROUGE-EAST FELICIANA-HANCOCK-
HARRISON-IBERVILLE-JACKSON-LIVINGSTON-LOWER JEFFERSON-
LOWER LAFOURCHE-LOWER PLAQUEMINES-LOWER ST BERNARD-LOWER TERREBONNE-
ORLEANS-PEARL RIVER-PIKE-POINTE COUPEE-ST CHARLES-ST HELENA-ST JAMES-
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST-ST TAMMANY-TANGIPAHOA-UPPER JEFFERSON-
UPPER LAFOURCHE-UPPER PLAQUEMINES-UPPER ST BERNARD-UPPER TERREBONNE-
WALTHALL-WASHINGTON-WEST BATON ROUGE-WEST FELICIANA-WILKINSON-
1132 AM CST THU DEC 7 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST
LOUISIANA AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

COLD AIR WILL FILTER INTO THE DEEP SOUTH BEHIND AN ARCTIC COLD
FRONT WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA THIS
AFTERNOON.  WINDS WILL BE BRISK BEHIND THE FRONT...DROPPING WIND
CHILL READINGS IN THE MID TO UPPER TEENS AFTER MIDNIGHT. A
HARD FREEZE IS EXPECTED ALONG AND NORTH OF A DONALSONVILLE TO
SLIDELL TO PASCAGOULA LINE...WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 20S FOR
SEVERAL HOURS.  TEMPERATURES SOUTH OF THIS LINE WILL DROP INTO THE
LOWER 30S FOR A FEW HOURS AROUND SUNRISE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND HIGH WIND SPEEDS WILL INCREASE THE RISK
OF WILDFIRES TOMORROW.  A RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE ISSUED TODAY
FOR THE DAYLIGHT HOURS FRIDAY.

SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED AGAIN FRIDAY NIGHT INTO
SATURDAY MORNING. A HARD FREEZE IS FORECAST FOR AREAS WEST AND NORTH
OF LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND ACROSS SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

GMZ530-550-555-570-575-081230-
PASCAGOULA TO SW PASS MISSISSIPPI RIVER OUT 20 NM-
PASCAGOULA TO SW PASS MISSISSIPPI RIVER 20-60 NM OUT-
SW PASS MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO ATCHAFALAYA RIVER OUT 20 NM-
SW PASS MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO ATCHAFALAYA RIVER 20-60 NM OUT-
LAKES PONTCHARTRAIN AND MAUREPAS-
1132 AM CST THU DEC 7 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE GULF
OF MEXICO.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES ARE POSTED FOR STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS AND
BUILDING SEAS AHEAD OF AND BEHIND THE ARCTIC COLD FRONT. OCCASIONAL
WIND GUSTS AT OR EXCEEDING GALE FORCE ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT ACROSS THE
COASTAL WATERS. VERY COLD WIND CHILL READINGS WILL SPREAD OFFSHORE
LATE TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING...AND OFFSHORE WINDS WILL PUSH TIDES
BELOW NORMAL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT ACROSS THE COASTAL
WATERS FRIDAY.  OTHERWISE...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

92/JSS

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1255 PM CST THU DEC 7 2006

LAZ034>040-046>050-MSZ068>071-077-080>082-072100-
POINTE COUPEE-WEST FELICIANA-EAST FELICIANA-ST. HELENA-TANGIPAHOA-
WASHINGTON-ST. TAMMANY-IBERVILLE-WEST BATON ROUGE-
EAST BATON ROUGE-ASCENSION-LIVINGSTON-WILKINSON-AMITE-PIKE-
WALTHALL-PEARL RIVER-HANCOCK-HARRISON-JACKSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEW ROADS...LIVONIA...
ST. FRANCISVILLE...JACKSON...CLINTON...GREENSBURG...MONTPELIER...
HAMMOND...PONCHATOULA...BOGALUSA...FRANKLINTON...SLIDELL...
MANDEVILLE...COVINGTON...LACOMBE...PLAQUEMINE...WHITE CASTLE...
PORT ALLEN...ADDIS...BRUSLY...BATON ROUGE...GONZALES...
DONALDSONVILLE...DENHAM SPRINGS...WALKER...CENTREVILLE...
WOODVILLE...GLOSTER...LIBERTY...CROSBY...MCCOMB...TYLERTOWN...
PICAYUNE...BAY ST. LOUIS...WAVELAND...DIAMONDHEAD...GULFPORT...
BILOXI...PASCAGOULA...OCEAN SPRINGS...MOSS POINT...GAUTIER...
ST. MARTIN
1255 PM CST THU DEC 7 2006

...VERY COLD AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL POSE SEVERAL WEATHER HAZARDS
   TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...
...A HARD FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR TONIGHT AND FRIDAY NIGHT...
...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR FRIDAY...

AN ARCTIC AIRMASS HAS BEGUN TO MOVE INTO THE DEEP SOUTH AND
USHERING NOT ONLY COLD TEMPERATURES BUT EVEN COLDER WIND CHILLS
AND VERY DRY AIR. THERE WILL BE A HIGHER THAN NORMAL THREAT FOR
FIRES TO IGNITE AND SPREAD RAPIDLY. AS A RESULT...AND IN COORDINATION
WITH STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS...A RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE IN
EFFECT FOR FRIDAY. IN ADDITION...A HARD FREEZE WARNING IS IN
EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE NORTH-SHORE AND EAST-CENTRAL PARISHES OF
LOUISIANA AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI.

A RED FLAG WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN WEATHER CONDITIONS IN
COMBINATION WITH DRY FUELS ON THE GROUND ARE FAVORABLE FOR
WILDFIRES TO DEVELOP AND SPREAD RAPIDLY. THIS IS A PARTICULARLY
DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN COMBINED WITH THE INCREASED USE OF
HEATING DEVICES TO OVERCOME THE VERY COLD TEMPERATURES. STRONG
AND GUSTY NORTH WINDS ALONG WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS EXPECTED
IN THE 10 TO 20 PERCENT RANGE FRIDAY AFTERNOON WILL MAKE FIRE
IGNITION EXTREMELY EFFICIENT. ALL RESIDENTS ACROSS SOUTH LOUISIANA
AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ANY OPEN BURNING OF
FIELDS AND WOODLANDS FRIDAY AND POSSIBLY SATURDAY. RESIDENTS
SHOULD REFRAIN FROM USING CANDLES AS A SOURCE OF HEAT...OR USE
EXTREME CAUTION WHILE DOING SO...UNDER CONSTANT SUPERVISION.
BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THE USE OF OPEN SPACE HEATERS. ENSURE THAT
PROPER VENTILATION IS APPLIED TO AVOID BUILDUP OF DEADLY CARBON
MONOXIDE GASES. KEEP FLAMMABLE PRODUCTS...PAPER AND FABRICS WELL
AWAY FROM HEAT SOURCES.

PRIOR TO THE HARD FREEZE PERIOD TONIGHT...PERSONS SHOULD BRING TO
COMPLETION PREPARATIONS OF WRAPPING EXPOSED PIPES...BRINGING IN
TENDER PLANTS AND PETS. PERSONS SHOULD ALSO AVOID RUNNING WATER AS
A MEANS OF MITIGATING FREEZING PIPES. THIS TENDS TO BRING WATER
PRESSURES DOWN AND COULD HAMPER FIRE FIGHTING EFFORTS.

IF YOU WILL BE OUT TONIGHT...DRESS WARMLY IN LAYERS AND AVOID
LENGTHY EXPOSURES TO THE COLD ELEMENTS. WIND CHILL READINGS WILL
BE IN THE 13 TO 20 DEGREE RANGE OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND EARLY FRIDAY.

ANOTHER HARD FREEZE IS EXPECTED AGAIN FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY
MORNING. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE LESS PRONOUNCED AND RELATIVE
HUMIDITY LEVELS WILL BE SLOWLY RETURNING TO SOMEWHAT HIGHER LEVELS
SATURDAY. WIND CHILLS WILL NOT BE AN ISSUE AS WINDS DROP TO MUCH
LOWER LEVELS. THE FIRE DANGER WILL BE ONLY SLIGHTLY IMPROVED FOR
SATURDAY AS RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS WILL REMAIN BELOW NORMAL.

PERSONS PARTAKING IN OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES SHOULD SAFEGUARD
FROM HYPOTHERMIA. DRESS WARM AND AVOID GETTING WET. IF YOU DO
HAPPEN TO GET WET...COVER IN BLANKETS AND GET DRY CLOTHING AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

LAZ056>070-072100-
ASSUMPTION-ST. JAMES-ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST-UPPER LAFOURCHE-
ST. CHARLES-UPPER JEFFERSON-ORLEANS-UPPER PLAQUEMINES-
UPPER ST. BERNARD-UPPER TERREBONNE-LOWER TERREBONNE-
LOWER LAFOURCHE-LOWER JEFFERSON-LOWER PLAQUEMINES-
LOWER ST. BERNARD-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PIERRE PART...LABADIEVILLE...
PAINCOURTVILLE...LUTCHER...GRAMERCY...LAPLACE...RESERVE...
THIBODAUX...RACELAND...LAROSE...DESTREHAN...NORCO...METAIRIE...
KENNER...NEW ORLEANS...BELLE CHASSE...CHALMETTE...VIOLET...
HOUMA...BAYOU CANE...CHAUVIN...DULAC...MONTEGUT...GALLIANO...
CUT OFF...GOLDEN MEADOW...PORT SULPHUR...EMPIRE...YSCLOSKEY
1255 PM CST THU DEC 7 2006

...VERY COLD AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL POSE SEVERAL WEATHER HAZARDS
   TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...
...A FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR TONIGHT AND FRIDAY NIGHT...
...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR FRIDAY...

AN ARCTIC AIRMASS HAS BEGUN TO MOVE INTO THE DEEP SOUTH AND
USHERING NOT ONLY COLD TEMPERATURES BUT EVEN COLDER WIND CHILLS
AND VERY DRY AIR. THERE WILL BE A HIGHER THAN NORMAL THREAT FOR
FIRES TO IGNITE AND SPREAD RAPIDLY. AS A RESULT...AND IN COORDINATION
WITH STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS...A RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE IN
EFFECT FOR FRIDAY. IN ADDITION...A FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT
FOR ALL OF THE SOUTH-SHORE AND RIVER PARISHES OF SOUTHEAST
LOUISIANA.

A RED FLAG WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN WEATHER CONDITIONS IN
COMBINATION WITH DRY FUELS ON THE GROUND ARE FAVORABLE FOR
WILDFIRES TO DEVELOP AND SPREAD RAPIDLY. THIS IS A PARTICULARLY
DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN COMBINED WITH THE INCREASED USE OF
HEATING DEVICES TO OVERCOME THE VERY COLD TEMPERATURES. STRONG
AND GUSTY NORTH WINDS ALONG WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS EXPECTED
IN THE 15 TO 20 PERCENT RANGE FRIDAY AFTERNOON WILL MAKE FIRE
IGNITION EXTREMELY EFFICIENT. ALL RESIDENTS ACROSS SOUTH LOUISIANA
SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ANY OPEN BURNING OF CANE FIELDS AND WOODLANDS
FRIDAY AND POSSIBLY SATURDAY. RESIDENTS SHOULD REFRAIN FROM USING
CANDLES AS A SOURCE OF HEAT...OR USE EXTREME CAUTION WHILE DOING
SO...UNDER CONSTANT SUPERVISION. BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THE USE OF
OPEN SPACE HEATERS. ENSURE THAT PROPER VENTILATION IS APPLIED TO
AVOID BUILDUP OF DEADLY CARBON MONOXIDE GASES. KEEP FLAMMABLE
PRODUCTS...PAPER AND FABRICS WELL AWAY FROM HEAT SOURCES.

PRIOR TO THE FREEZE PERIOD TONIGHT...PERSONS SHOULD BRING TO
COMPLETION PREPARATIONS OF WRAPPING EXPOSED PIPES...BRINGING IN
TENDER PLANTS AND PETS. PERSONS SHOULD ALSO AVOID RUNNING WATER AS
A MEANS OF MITIGATING FREEZING PIPES. THIS TENDS TO BRING WATER
PRESSURES DOWN AND COULD HAMPER FIRE FIGHTING EFFORTS.

IF YOU WILL BE OUT TONIGHT...DRESS WARMLY IN LAYERS AND AVOID
LENGTHY EXPOSURES TO THE COLD ELEMENTS. WIND CHILL READINGS WILL
BE IN THE 20 TO 25 DEGREE RANGE OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND EARLY
FRIDAY.

ANOTHER FREEZE IS POSSIBLE AGAIN FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY
MORNING. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE LESS PRONOUNCED AND RELATIVE
HUMIDITY LEVELS WILL BE SLOWLY RETURNING TO SOMEWHAT HIGHER LEVELS
SATURDAY. WIND CHILLS WILL NOT BE AN ISSUE AS WINDS DROP TO MUCH
LOWER LEVELS. THE FIRE DANGER WILL BE ONLY SLIGHTLY IMPROVED FOR
SATURDAY AS RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS WILL REMAIN BELOW NORMAL.

PERSONS PARTAKING IN OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES SHOULD SAFEGUARD
FROM HYPOTHERMIA. DRESS WARM AND AVOID GETTING WET. IF YOU DO
HAPPEN TO GET WET...COVER IN BLANKETS AND GET DRY CLOTHING AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

24