Fire danger high across state this weekend

Persistent dryness across much of the state has prompted fire officials to issue a fire danger warning for this weekend. The biggest concern is focused on the central and north central regions of the state.

Star Tribune

Last update: September 18, 2009 - 11:18 PM

Persistent dryness across much of Minnesota has prompted state fire officials to issue a fire danger warning for the weekend.

Fire danger is high because of predicted high temperatures and high winds this weekend, according to the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center.

Extra staff members will be working out of the center in Grand Rapids as a precaution.

The staff's biggest concern is central and north-central Minnesota, the areas with the biggest rainfall deficits.

The drought that has gripped much of the state for more than a year has settled back in with a renewed dry stretch that produced what the state climatology office calls "negligible" rainfall.

According to the fire center, the driest areas have received less than half the average 3-inch rainfall it should have gotten during the past month.

No substantial rain is in the forecast until at least Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

BOB VON STERNBERG