ESCANABA — The National Weather Service Marquette Office has issued a “Red Flag Warning” for the Upper Peninsula — warning that critical fire weather conditions are expected today.

The warning, which was issued shortly after 5 p.m. Friday and continues until 5 p.m. today, states that a low-level jet stream will bring southernly winds that may gust at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. The high winds will coincide with relative humidities that are expected to dip as low as 33 percent and ongoing abnormally dry to severe drought conditions Saturday afternoon.

Moisture is expected to increase from the west later in the afternoon, but the dry and windy conditions will create an ideal environment for rapid fire growth and speed, according to the NWS.

All U.P. counties are under the Red Flag Warning.

The high winds have also prompted the NWS to issue both gale and small craft advisories for the U.P. shoreline. For the Delta, Menominee and Schoolcraft county shoreline, the gale warning will be in effect from 5 p.m. today until 2 p.m. Sunday, and the small craft advisory will be from 10 a.m. today until 5 p.m. this evening.

The U.P.’s far eastern Lake Michigan Shoreline in Luce County was listed as being under a gale watch from 8 p.m. tonight until 5 a.m. Sunday. That watch extends around the tip of the peninsula into Lake Superior.

A separate gale warning also stretches across the northern shoreline of the peninsula, stretching from Gogebic to northern Chippewa County in Lake Superior.

Deeper waters in both lakes are also under gale warnings. The NWS recommends mariners remain in port and secure vessels for severe conditions.