BOSTON (CBS) – The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag warning for Monday through much of southern New England because of continued dry weather.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Doug Cope reports.

The Red Flag warning means continued dry weather and high winds could combine for conditions that could cause more brush fires.

Check: WBZ Forecast

Forecaster Glenn Field at the National Weather Service office in Taunton says precipitation is way down for the year.

“Well actually in Boston, we have had a little over five inches since the beginning of the year, 5.12, and put that into perspective, the normal value through this date is 11.88 inches, so that’s a deficit of about 6 and 3/4 inches.,” said Field.

Field says the Red Flag warning has also been extended to include Cape Cod and the Islands, areas that which usually have higher humidity than other areas.