Davenport, IA – Residents along the Iowa–Illinois border should prepare for very warm, dry, and windy conditions through the weekend, raising fire danger across the Quad Cities region.
According to the National Weather Service Quad Cities office, highs are expected to remain in the upper 80s to low 90s through Sunday, with winds gusting up to 30 mph. These conditions, paired with extremely dry fields, will result in an elevated risk for crop and grass fires. Officials urge residents to avoid outdoor burning and use caution with farm equipment.
September ended as one of the driest on record for the region, with several cities in eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois receiving less than one inch of rain. Drought conditions have expanded, with the U.S. Drought Monitor reporting severe drought (D2) across central Illinois and worsening dryness extending into eastern Iowa.
The National Weather Service warns that any fires that start could spread rapidly under current weather conditions. Farmers, in particular, are asked to take precautions during harvest as machinery sparks could ignite cured crops.
While rain chances increase slightly Sunday night into Monday, totals are not expected to provide meaningful relief. Until then, officials recommend delaying outdoor burning, heeding local burn bans, and exercising caution with cigarettes and other ignition sources.
