Weather service renews elevated fire danger statement for Sunday afternoon
BATON ROUGE - Dry air will again bring elevated fire weather conditions to East Baton Rouge and much of southeast Louisiana on Sunday afternoon, according to a special weather statement the National Weather Service issued shortly after midnight.
Relative humidity is forecast to fall to between 30 and 40 percent, especially near and north of the Interstate 10 and 12 corridors. Winds at or below 10 mph in most areas should limit critical fire conditions and the spread of any fires that start, the weather service said.
The statement, in effect until 7 p.m., also covers West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, the Felicianas, Livingston and Tangipahoa, among other parishes.
Local burn bans continue to expand because of drought, the weather service said, listing East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington and West Feliciana parishes. East Baton Rouge is not on that list. The agency strongly advised against outdoor burning Sunday afternoon and said all local restrictions should be followed.
The forecast calls for sunny skies and a high near 82 on Sunday and a high near 81 on Monday, with no rain expected.