FIRST ALERT WEATHER: Red flag warning continues into Monday for all islands except Kauai County

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The National Weather Service in Honolulu says a red flag warning is continuing for leeward areas and Central Oahu, but has been canceled for the islands of Kauai and Niihau.

The red flag warning will be in effect until 6 p.m. Monday.

Forecasts call for east winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts up to 50 miles per hour, with the strongest winds expected Monday.

Relative humidity levels are expected to drop to near 40% during the afternoon hours Monday.

The red flag warning does not predict where and when new fires will start. However, the strong winds and low humidity, coupled with dry brush due to drought conditions, will contribute to extreme fire behavior, and any fires that do start will spread rapidly.

Hawaii County has already announced that all outdoor burning will be strictly prohibited in North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, South Kona, and Kaʻū from 12 a.m. Sunday through 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The county also said all outdoor activities that include open flames, including outdoor cooking, welding and grinding, will also be prohibited island-wide during that time.

The Weather Service and your HNN First Alert Weather Team say you should avoid outdoor burning due to the red flag warning. It is recommended that any activities that could throw off sparks should be delayed until after the winds die down.

For actions you can take to protect life and property from wildfires, visit the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization at https://www.hawaiiwildfire.org/home.

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