More cool and dry weather is in the forecast as a cold front moves through the state Louisiana. And it should be less windy on this Friday. National Weather Service (NWS) forecaster Hannah Linsey says the state is in the midst of an unseasonal dry spell. “We don't have any rain in the forecast, so we are definitely going to start to get into that time where we worry about drought for sure.” Linsey says much of Louisiana should stay dry through next week at least. But drought conditions aren’t as bad as last year at this point in the season.
People in large portions of the Red River Radio listening area find themselves under an outdoor burn ban. That’s the word from the National Weather Service in Shreveport. Areas include Southwest Arkansas, much of East Texas and almost every parish in Northwest Louisiana. Regardless of whether a burn ban is in effect for your county or parish, outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. According to Louisiana law [RS 40:1602], violating a burn ban may result in a civil fine of $250.
The NWS in Slidell and the NWS in Lake Charles issued Red Flag Warnings on Wednesday, which cover the area from Alexandria south to the coast. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry (LDAF) says a Red Flag Warning means warm temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds are expected to produce an increased risk of fire danger.
An LDAF statement on its website explains the importance of people abiding by burn bans saying, “This collective effort is crucial in preventing a repeated of last year’s devastating wildfire season.” To check the status of your area click here for the LDAF web pages.
