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ALPENA — The National Weather service has issued a red flag warning for all of northern Michigan, including Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency, and Alcona counties.

The warning is set to expire at 8 p.m. tonight unless it is extended or cut short by the Weather Service.

The Weather Service issues red flag warnings when forecasts indicate that a combination of high temperatures, very low humidity, and strong winds in a given location could create an environment conducive to dangerous fires.

Rain, with an occasional thunderstorm, is expected late tonight and into Wednesday, which should reduce the risk of grass and forest fires.

The red flag warning criteria stipulates that the Weather Service issues a warning when relative humidity in an area drops to about 25% while surface winds or frequent gusts simultaneously climb to at least 25 miles per hour. Both conditions must occur simultaneously for at least three hours over a 12-hour period.

In its warning, the Weather Service says people should be mindful of their actions to avoid inadvertently starting a fire.

It says people should not throw cigarettes on the ground, avoid parking vehicles on grass, avoid any activity outdoors that can produce sparks, use extra caution when grilling, and to thoroughly extinguish any bonfires or campfires.