2 products issued by NWS for: 3 Miles ENE Beecher IL
Hazardous Weather Outlook
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL
917 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026
ILZ003>006-008-010>013-019>021-023-032-033-039-103>108-INZ001-002-
010-011-019-191530-
Winnebago-Boone-McHenry-Lake IL-Ogle-Lee-De Kalb-Kane-DuPage-
La Salle-Kendall-Grundy-Kankakee-Livingston-Iroquois-Ford-
Northern Cook-Central Cook-Southern Cook-Northern Will-
Southern Will-Eastern Will-Lake IN-Porter-Newton-Jasper-Benton-
917 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026 /1017 AM EST Wed Feb 18 2026/
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Illinois...northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.
.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.
Weather hazards expected...
Significant Fire Weather Risk.
Elevated Non Thunderstorm Wind Risk.
DISCUSSION...
The combination of unseasonably warm and exceptionally dry
conditions and gusty winds will result in a significant risk for
grass and brush fire spread this afternoon.
West southwest winds will gust to 40 to 50 mph today.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.
Thursday...
Limited Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
Level 2 of 5 Severe Thunderstorm Risk.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation will not be necessary through tonight.
$$
Red Flag Warning
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Chicago IL 903 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING EXPANDED TO INCLUDE CHICAGO METRO... Conditions will turn very dry and windy this afternoon, making conditions supportive of brush fire spread. Even with rainfall last night generally 0.05 to 0.15 of an inch across northeastern Illinois, the combination of warm, dry, and windy conditions will cause fine fuels to dry out by early afternoon. As a result, the Red Flag Warning was expanded to include Cook, DuPage, Will, Kankakee, and Lake (IL) Counties until 8 PM this evening. ILZ006-013-014-022-023-182315- /O.EXA.KLOT.FW.W.0001.260218T1600Z-260219T0200Z/ Lake IL-DuPage-Cook-Will-Kankakee- 903 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CST THIS EVENING... The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect until 8 PM CST this evening. * Affected Area...Lake IL, DuPage, Cook, Will and Kankakee. * Timing...Until 8 PM CST this evening. * Winds...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * Relative Humidity...As low as 15 to 20 percent. * Impacts...Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. && $$