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In coordination with state and federal fire weather officials, the National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for Saturday, Oct. 7 for critical fire conditions in Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi.

A red flag warning means warm temperatures, very low humidities and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger.  

The red flag warning was issued due to a combination of the severe to extreme drought across the area, low relative humidity and winds 10 to 15 miles per hour with higher gusts.

A potent cold front is forecasted to pass through the area later today, bringing north-northeasterly solid winds at 15 to 20 mph speeds, gusting up to 25 mph. Dewpoints are expected to drop to the mid-30s to low 40s over the weekend. These conditions will result in low moisture levels, causing daytime relative humidity to range between 25 to 35 percent on Saturday and 25 to 30 percent on Sunday.

The warning will remain in effect from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Affected areas include Pointe Coupee, West Feliciana, East Feliciana, St. Helena, Washington, Iberville, West Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge, Assumption, St. James, St. John The Baptist, Upper Lafourche, St. Charles, Upper St. Bernard, Upper Terrebonne, Lower Terrebonne, Lower Lafourche, Coastal Jefferson Parish, Wilkinson, Lower Plaquemines, Amite, Lower St. Bernard, Pike, Northern Tangipahoa, Walthall, Southeast St. Tammany, Western Orleans, Pearl River, Eastern Orleans, Northern St. Tammany, Southwestern St. Tammany, Hancock, Central Tangipahoa, Harrison, Lower Tangipahoa, Jackson, Northern Livingston, Southern Livingston, Western Ascension, Eastern Ascension, Upper Jefferson, Lower Jefferson, Upper Plaquemines and Central Plaquemines.

All parishes are still under the statewide burn ban with the exception of the following: Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Jackson, Morehouse, Ouachita, Union and Webster.

To prevent the spread of fires, citizens are encouraged to avoid throwing cigarettes or matches out of a moving vehicle. They may ignite dry grass on the side of the road and become a wildfire.

The National Weather Service will closely monitor weather conditions and provide updates as needed to help mitigate any potential risks and safeguard the affected regions.