What is a red flag warning? In the lead-up to the 2020 election, all eyes are on Iowa. Get updates of all things Iowa politics delivered to your inbox. Warm temperatures combined with low humidities and strong winds create an increased risk for fire danger.

Iowa's recent dry weather, paired with this week's high winds, has created dangerous fire weather across the state.On Wednesday, parts of northwest Iowa are under a red flag warning until 7 p.m. This includes Lyon,

Dry conditions persist in Iowa as the state goes from a too wet planting season to an almost too dry harvesting season. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning, as high winds and dry conditions are raising a risk for fires.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for western and northwestern Iowa until Thursday, the NWS said. These warnings get issued when there are wind gusts over 30 mph and humidity levels less than 25%.

"Red flag Warnings span from Kansas to Minnesota and reiterate the potential for fires to spread rapidly," the NWS said.

The Red Flag Warnings are in effect from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the 88 counties that are impacted. The NWS says that outdoor burning is not recommended because of the potential for that fire to grow out of control and spread rapidly and be difficult to extinguish.

Iowans are warned not to do any open burning today, and farmers need to use caution in the fields with their hot harvest equipment, as 88 of the state’s 99 counties are under a Red Flag Warning. National Weather Service meteorologist Alexis Jimenez says the fire danger is very high to extreme.