A Fire Weather Watch is used to alert agencies to the high potential for development of a Red Flag event in the 24-72 hour time frame. (A watch my be issued in the first 12 hours time period only for an expected dry thunderstorm event.)

A Red Flag Warning is used to inform agencies of the imminent or actual occurrence of Red Flag conditions. This warning will be issued immediately when there is high confidence that Red Flag criteria will be met within the next 24 hours...or if those criteria are already being met.

More detailed information can be found on the...

2004 Fire Weather Operating Plan
(requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)