URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL 445 PM CDT MON OCT 8 2012 090WINNEBAGO-BOONE-MCHENRY-LAKE IL-OGLE-LEE-DE KALB-KANE-DUPAGE-COOK- LA SALLE-KENDALL-GRUNDY-WILL-KANKAKEE-LIVINGSTON-IROQUOIS-FORD- LAKE IN-PORTER-NEWTON-JASPER-BENTON- 445 PM CDT MON OCT 8 2012 /545 PM EDT MON OCT 8 2012/ ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT /10 PM EDT/ THIS EVENING... * AFFECTED AREA...NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. * WINDS...SOUTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH. * TIMING...GUSTY WINDS WILL PERSIST THROUGH EARLY EVENING. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 25 PERCENT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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 WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.