National Weather ServiceNebraskaRed Flag WarningArchive to October 1, 2026
Red Flag Warnings in Nebraska
The National Weather Service issued 92 red flag warnings for Nebraska in 2025 and 71 a year on average in 2008-2025; in 2021-2025 it had the 4th most of any state. 2026 through September: 147, 159% above the average of 57 for those months in 2008-2025. Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR was covered most often (263 times since 2008).
How many red flag warnings does Nebraska get?
Every red flag warning that covered part of Nebraska. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 147 |
| 2025 | 92 |
| 2024 | 105 |
| 2023 | 49 |
| 2022 | 167 |
| 2021 | 80 |
| 2020 | 103 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2018 | 22 |
| 2017 | 65 |
| 2016 | 64 |
| 2015 | 76 |
| 2014 | 62 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2012 | 212 |
| 2011 | 61 |
| 2010 | 37 |
| 2009 | 24 |
| 2008 | 30 |
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 does Nebraska get them?
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.
Where in Nebraska?
| County or forecast zone | Since 2008 | Since 2023 | Last issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR | 263 | 83 | September 11, 2026 |
| Dundy | 256 | 45 | April 23, 2026 |
| Frenchman Basin | 238 | 63 | August 2, 2026 |
| Furnas | 224 | 62 | May 13, 2026 |
| Gosper | 210 | 62 | May 13, 2026 |
| Hitchcock | 208 | 41 | April 23, 2026 |
| Harlan | 204 | 60 | May 17, 2026 |
| Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest | 202 | 63 | September 11, 2026 |
| Loess Plains | 197 | 53 | June 17, 2026 |
| Red Willow | 197 | 37 | April 23, 2026 |
| Dawson | 194 | 60 | May 13, 2026 |
| Phelps | 187 | 59 | May 13, 2026 |
The NWS issues these products for counties or forecast zones; a zone can be part of a county or a mountain range.
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 for Nebraska in AreaZine's record
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 North PlatteWarningSeptember 10, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest and Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie National Forest, NE
Expired 8:00 p.m. CDT, September 11, 2026
NWS CheyenneWarningSeptember 10, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Pine Ridge/Nebraska National Forest, Box Butte/South Sioux/Niobrara River, Lower North Platte River Basin/Scottsbluff National Monument and 2 more, NE and WY
Expired 7:00 p.m. MDT, September 11, 2026
NWS North PlatteWarningSeptember 3, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, NE
Expired 9:00 p.m. CDT, September 3, 2026
NWS North PlatteWarningAugust 2, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, NE
Expired 10:00 p.m. CDT, August 3, 2026
NWS CheyenneWarningAugust 2, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Pine Ridge/Nebraska National Forest, Box Butte/South Sioux/Niobrara River, Lower North Platte River Basin/Scottsbluff National Monument and 1 more, NE and WY
Expired 9:00 p.m. MDT, August 3, 2026
NWS North PlatteWarningAugust 1, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Frenchman Basin, NE
Expired 11:00 p.m. CDT, August 2, 2026
NWS CheyenneWarningAugust 1, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Pine Ridge/Nebraska National Forest, Box Butte/South Sioux/Niobrara River, Lower North Platte River Basin/Scottsbluff National Monument and 1 more, NE and WY
Expired 9:00 p.m. MDT, August 2, 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.
Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov).
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. The national record · Every warning type in Nebraska.