Ham Lake Fire May 10, 2007

Weather Forecast and Evacuation-

Current time: May 10, 2007 – 7:01 CDT Most Recent Observations at May 10, 2007 – 6:04 CDT 6:04

The current temperature at the Seagull Guard Station is 63 degrees.  Dew Point is 43.5, Humidity 49%, Wind Speed 5 mph from the West, Wind Gusts at 9 mph.

FIRE WEATHER PLANNING FORECAST FOR NE MINNESOTA AND NW WISCONSIN
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
433 AM CDT THU MAY 10 2007

…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEAST MINNESOTA TODAY…

.DISCUSSION…
A COLD FRONT IS APPROACHING NORTHEAST MINNESOTA TODAY. INCREASINGSOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE TEMPERATURES TO RISE TO THE LOW TO MID 80S ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA. VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES IN THE MID TO UPPER TEENS WILL PREVENT ANY SHOWERS FROM FORMING ALONG THE FRONT…WITH A FEW THUNDERSTORMS SOUTH OF ROUTE 2. WITH THE AIR BEING SO DRY…THERE IS A DANGER OF DRY LIGHTNING AND ABRUPTLY STRONG GUSTS TO 50 MPH WITH SOME OF THESE STORMS. BEHIND THE FRONT…COOLING ALOFT WILL CAUSE WEST…THEN NORTHWEST WINDS TO STRENGTHEN TO 30 MPH WITH SOME GUSTS EVENTUALLY REACHING 40 MPH AS THE AFTERNOON WEARS ON. OVERNIGHT…WINDS WILL BECOME ONSHORE AND IN THE 10 TO 20 MPH RANGE AS TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN IN THE LOW TO MID 60S ACROSS NORTHEAST MINNESOTA ON FRIDAY. HUMIDITIES WILL RETURN
TO THE LOW TO MID 20S FRIDAY AFTERNOON. LIGHT AND SPOTTY RAIN…
ASSOCIATED WITH IOWA LOW PRESSURE…MAY MOVE INTO THE AREA FRIDAY.

THE COOL AND VERY DRY ONSHORE FLOW WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES IN THE 60S SATURDAY. A WARM FRONT SHOULD LIFT HUMIDITIES AND MAY BRING SOME SPOTTY RAIN SUNDAY…WITH A TROUGH EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH MONDAY. ANOTHER HUDSON BAY HIGH WILL RETURN THE AREA TO VERY DRYWEATHER…PLENTY OF SUNSHINE…AND BRISK…GUSTY ONSHORE WINDS TUESDAY AND FOR MUCH OF THE COMING WEEK.

Also on the 10^th– mandatory evacuation

Be advised, the Cook County Sheriff’s Department has issued a mandatory evacuation from South Gunflint Lake Road to County Road 92.  This includes, but may not be limited to, South Gunflint Lake Road, Mile O Pine, North Loon Lake Road, Tucker Lake Road, South Loon Lake Road/Loon Lake Lodge Road.  For your safety, please evacuate immediately.