By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Hays is under a red-flag warning in effect from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
This is an upgrade from a fire weather watch issued on Thursday for the same time period.
The effect is for wind and low relative humidity for much of southwest Kansas. Affected counties include Trego, Ellis, Ness, Rush, Finney, Hodgeman, Pawnee, Stafford, Grant, Haskell, Gray, Ford, Edwards, Kiowa, Pratt, Morton, Stevens, Seward, Meade, Clark, Comanche and Barber.
Winds from the south are expected to be 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
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 can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
The high in Hays today is forecast at 89 degrees with a low of 49. Tomorrow's forecast is for highs in the 90s and sunny.