* AFFECTED AREA. In Iowa, Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Sioux, O'Brien, Clay, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Woodbury and Ida. In Minnesota, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Cottonwood, Nobles, Jackson, Pipestone and Rock. In Nebraska, Dixon and Dakota. In South Dakota, Kingsbury, Brookings, Miner, Lake, Moody, Hanson, McCook, Minnehaha, Hutchinson, Turner, Lincoln, Bon Homme, Yankton, Clay and Union. * WINDS. Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY. As low as 17 percent. * IMPACTS. Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

NEAR-CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA TODAY. .A cold front moving into Minnesota this afternoon will again result in elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions along and west of a line from Mankato to St. Cloud. Ahead of the cold front, southwest winds will be sustained at 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph and afternoon humidity values falling to between 25% and 35%. Behind the cold front, humdities will fall to to between 15% and 25%, but wind speeds will be falling as well, with sustained winds in these lower humidities expected to bet 10 to 15 mph. Given the uncertains with how low the relative humidity will fall where the strongest winds are ahead of the front and uncertainty with the strength of the winds behind the front where the lowest humidities will be, the Fire Weather Watch has been left in place. * AFFECTED AREA. Locations along and west of a line from St. Cloud to Mankato. * WIND. South to Southwest 15-20 mph with gusts 25-30 mph. * HUMIDITY. As low as 18 percent. * IMPACTS. any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

Fire Weather Watch for Northwest Iowa Today. .The combination of well above average temperatures, dry conditions, and gusty south to southwest winds will lead to very high to extreme fire danger over northwest Iowa from late morning through the early evening today. The greatest fire danger will be over the dried cropland where harvest is ongoing. * AFFECTED AREA. Much of northwest Iowa. * WIND. Southwest wind 15 to 25 mph with gusts 25 to 35 mph. * HUMIDITY. As low as 15 to 25 percent. * IMPACTS. Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.