National Weather ServiceRed Flag WarningVTEC FW.WArchive to October 1, 2026
Red Flag Warning: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 957 red flag warnings in 2025 and 1,154 a year on average in 2008-2025; Texas, Colorado and Kansas got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 1,174, 19% above the average of 983 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is a red flag warning?
A red flag warning means critical fire weather is happening or about to happen: strong wind, very low humidity and dry fuels together, so a fire that starts can spread fast. Each office sets the criteria with its land-management partners. A warning means the hazard is happening, about to happen, or very likely: act now to protect people and property.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many red flag warnings a year?
National count: each red flag warning counted once, whatever the number of states it covers. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 1,174 |
| 2025 | 957 |
| 2024 | 996 |
| 2023 | 887 |
| 2022 | 1,305 |
| 2021 | 1,125 |
| 2020 | 1,130 |
| 2019 | 518 |
| 2018 | 1,024 |
| 2017 | 976 |
| 2016 | 996 |
| 2015 | 775 |
| 2014 | 1,047 |
| 2013 | 885 |
| 2012 | 1,799 |
| 2011 | 1,651 |
| 2010 | 1,684 |
| 2009 | 1,287 |
| 2008 | 1,735 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
When in the year?
Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
Which states get the most red flag warnings?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A red flag warning covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 172 | 183 | 149 |
| Colorado | 139 | 124 | 129 |
| Kansas | 105 | 94 | 84 |
| Nebraska | 99 | 71 | 92 |
| New Mexico | 95 | 108 | 82 |
| California | 69 | 85 | 49 |
| Wyoming | 61 | 61 | 34 |
| Oregon | 58 | 49 | 59 |
| Oklahoma | 51 | 50 | 30 |
| South Dakota | 50 | 31 | 45 |
| Arizona | 42 | 54 | 44 |
| Montana | 42 | 42 | 17 |
| Idaho | 40 | 37 | 29 |
| Nevada | 37 | 45 | 35 |
| Washington | 34 | 31 | 39 |
| Utah | 32 | 36 | 34 |
| Iowa | 28 | 15 | 26 |
| Minnesota | 27 | 22 | 25 |
| Missouri | 21 | 20 | 36 |
| North Dakota | 18 | 17 | 16 |
| Alaska | 18 | 24 | 18 |
| Florida | 14 | 128 | 23 |
| Michigan | 11 | 7 | 5 |
| Louisiana | 11 | 4 | 5 |
| Mississippi | 11 | 7 | 4 |
| North Carolina | 10 | 9 | 24 |
| Illinois | 10 | 8 | 19 |
| Connecticut | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Georgia | 8 | 25 | 16 |
| Virginia | 8 | 7 | 15 |
| Alabama | 7 | 37 | 4 |
| Massachusetts | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| Arkansas | 6 | 7 | 11 |
| Indiana | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| New Jersey | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| Wisconsin | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | 7 | 0 |
| West Virginia | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| South Carolina | 4 | 3 | 10 |
| Tennessee | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Maryland | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Puerto Rico | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Hawaii | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| New York | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Ohio | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Rhode Island | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Vermont | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| District of Columbia | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Maine | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Delaware | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
The latest red flag warnings in AreaZine's record
NWS RenoWarningSeptember 24, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Northern Sierra Front - Carson City/Douglas/Storey/Southern Washoe/Eastern Lyon/Far Southern Lassen Counties and Southern Sierra Front - Alpine/Northern Mono/Southern Lyon/Western Mi
Expired 10:00 p.m. PDT, September 25, 2026
NWS MedfordWarningSeptember 23, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley, CA
Expired 8:00 p.m. PDT, September 24, 2026
NWS BoiseWarningSeptember 17, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Northern Boise National Forest, Southern Boise/Western Sawtooth NF, including the Camas Prairie, Burns BLM and 3 more, ID and OR
Expired 9:00 p.m. MDT, September 17, 2026
NWS ElkoWarningSeptember 16, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Northern Nye County - Mojave and Central Nevada - Toiyabe, NV
Expired 8:00 p.m. PDT, September 17, 2026
NWS ElkoWarningSeptember 16, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Northern Nye County - Mojave and Central Nevada - Toiyabe, NV
Expired 8:00 p.m. PDT, September 16, 2026
NWS CheyenneWarningSeptember 14, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Pine Ridge/Nebraska National Forest, Box Butte/South Sioux/Niobrara River and Lower North Platte River Basin/Scottsbluff National Monument, NE and WY
Expired 8:00 p.m. MDT, September 14, 2026
NWS RivertonWarningSeptember 13, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Sweetwater County/Rock Springs BLM/Flaming Gorge NRA, Natrona County/Casper BLM, Upper Wind River Basin/Wind River Basin and 2 more, WY
Expired 8:00 p.m. MDT, September 14, 2026
NWS ElkoWarningSeptember 12, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Southeastern Humboldt County and northern Lander County, White Pine and Northeast Nye Counties, Northern Nye County - Mojave and 5 more, NV
Expired 11:00 p.m. PDT, September 12, 2026
This list is AreaZine's record of the NWS alert feed, kept since April 6, 2026; the counts above come from the complete IEM archive.