Red Flag Warnings blanketing Minnesota on Thursday

85 Minnesota counties are under a Red Flag Warning on Thursday due to high winds and low relative humidity creating critical fire weather conditions.

"With how dry we've been over the past month and a half, things are primed for fires to get going," said NWS Twin Cities meteorologist Melissa Dye. "On top of that we have really low humidity levels."

Relative humidity levels are expected to range between 20 and 25 percent on Thursday, with southerly winds gusting between 20 to 30 MPH closer to the Twin Cities and 50 MPH in Greater Minnesota.

"Unfortunately there isn't a lot of moisture on the horizon," Dye said. "By Friday, winds will start coming down and relative humidity levels will start coming up and continue into the weekend."

As for rain, there is a chance mainly across western and central Minnesota later Friday into early Saturday, although accumulation is expected to be minimal.

The Minnesota DNR announced expanded burning restrictions on October 11 for Cook, Koochiching, Lake, and the northern half of St. Louis counties.