The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the Chicago area, indicating a high risk of brush fires due to very dry and windy conditions. This warning follows an unusual episode of 'dusty rain,' where showers mixed with dust and wildfire smoke from the central and southern plains, resulting in a thin layer of mud across northeastern Illinois. Temperatures are in the low 60s°F (around 16°C), with breezy conditions reported at O'Hare and Midway airports. The combination of warm temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds is expected to dry out fine fuels rapidly, increasing the potential for fires to ignite and spread quickly.