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National Weather ServiceSouth DakotaRed Flag WarningArchive to October 14, 2026

Red Flag Warnings in South Dakota

The National Weather Service issued 45 red flag warnings for South Dakota in 2025 and 31 a year on average in 2008-2025; in 2021-2025 it had the 10th most of any state. 2026 through September: 71, 184% above the average of 25 for those months in 2008-2025. Badlands Area was covered most often (145 times since 2008).

How many red flag warnings does South Dakota get?

45 red flag warnings for South Dakota in 2025
204060802008: 1020082009: 820092010: 1820102011: 1320112012: 7420122013: 1020132014: 1220142015: 4620152016: 4020162017: 2920172018: 1120182019: 220192020: 3720202021: 5920212022: 7620222023: 1220232024: 6020242025: 4520252026: 7220262008-2025 average 312026 through September: 72204060802008: 1020082009: 82010: 1820102011: 132012: 7420122013: 102014: 1220142015: 462016: 4020162017: 292018: 1120182019: 22020: 3720202021: 592022: 7620222023: 122024: 6020242025: 452026: 7220262008-2025 average 312026 through September: 72204060802008: 1020082009: 82010: 1820102011: 132012: 7420122013: 102014: 1220142015: 462016: 4020162017: 292018: 1120182019: 22020: 3720202021: 592022: 7620222023: 122024: 6020242025: 452026: 7220262008-2025 average 312026 through September: 72204060802008: 1020082009: 82010: 182011: 132012: 742013: 102014: 122015: 4620152016: 402017: 292018: 112019: 22020: 3720202021: 592022: 762023: 122024: 602025: 452026: 7220262008-2025 average 312026 through September: 72

Every red flag warning that covered part of South Dakota. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.

The numbers
YearCount
2026 (through September)72
202545
202460
202312
202276
202159
202037
20192
201811
201729
201640
201546
201412
201310
201274
201113
201018
20098
200810

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 14, 2026.

When in the year does South Dakota get them?

South Dakota's red flag warnings by month, 2008-2025
50100150Jan: 5JanFeb: 12FebMar: 108MarApr: 135AprMay: 25MayJun: 3JunJul: 32JulAug: 44AugSep: 86SepOct: 76OctNov: 33NovDec: 3Dec13550100150Jan: 5JanFeb: 12FebMar: 108MarApr: 135AprMay: 25MayJun: 3JunJul: 32JulAug: 44AugSep: 86SepOct: 76OctNov: 33NovDec: 3Dec13550100150Jan: 5JanFeb: 12FebMar: 108MarApr: 135AprMay: 25MayJun: 3JunJul: 32JulAug: 44AugSep: 86SepOct: 76OctNov: 33NovDec: 3Dec13550100150Jan: 5JFeb: 12FMar: 108MApr: 135AMay: 25MJun: 3JJul: 32JAug: 44ASep: 86SOct: 76ONov: 33NDec: 3D135

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 14, 2026.

Where in South Dakota?

County or forecast zoneSince 2008Since 2023Last issued
Badlands Area14548October 9, 2026
Southern Black Hills11936October 9, 2026
Fall River County Area10861October 9, 2026
Pine Ridge Area10157October 9, 2026
Lower Bad River850November 6, 2020
Custer County Plains8146October 9, 2026
Upper Cheyenne790November 3, 2020
Bennett County Area7746September 11, 2026
Jones7341September 11, 2026
Southwestern South Dakota720September 23, 2018
Bon Homme7143May 14, 2026
Yankton7145May 14, 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 14, 2026.

The latest red flag warnings for South Dakota in AreaZine's record

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).

Every red flag warning for South Dakota in AreaZine's record

109 notices in AreaZine's record; the latest first below. Every one, oldest first: April 10, 2026 to October 9, 2026.

  1. Red Flag Warning: Central Black Hills, Southern Black Hills, Fall River County Area and 12 more, SD and WY Central Black Hills, Southern Black Hills, Fall River County Area and 12 more expired
  2. Red Flag Warning: Central Black Hills, Southern Black Hills, Fall River County Area and 12 more, SD and WY Central Black Hills, Southern Black Hills, Fall River County Area and 12 more expired
  3. Red Flag Warning: Central Black Hills, Southern Black Hills, Fall River County Area and 12 more, SD and WY Central Black Hills, Southern Black Hills, Fall River County Area and 12 more expired
  4. Red Flag Warning: Stanley, Hughes, Hyde and 1 more, SD Stanley, Hughes, Hyde and 1 more expired
  5. Red Flag Warning: Southern Black Hills, Fall River County Area, Custer County Plains and 4 more, SD and WY Southern Black Hills, Fall River County Area, Custer County Plains and 4 more expired
  6. Red Flag Warning: Jones, Lyman and Buffalo, SD Jones, Lyman and Buffalo expired
  7. Red Flag Warning: Southern Black Hills, Fall River County Area, Custer County Plains and 4 more, SD and WY Southern Black Hills, Fall River County Area, Custer County Plains and 4 more expired
  8. Red Flag Warning: Sioux Ranger District Custer National Forest, MT and SD Sioux Ranger District Custer National Forest expired
  9. Red Flag Warning: Corson, Campbell, Walworth and 3 more, SD Corson, Campbell, Walworth and 3 more expired
  10. Red Flag Warning: Fall River County Area, Northern Campbell, Southern Campbell and 2 more, SD and WY Fall River County Area, Northern Campbell, Southern Campbell and 2 more expired
  11. Red Flag Warning: Butte County Area, Northern Campbell, Southern Campbell and 3 more, SD and WY Butte County Area, Northern Campbell, Southern Campbell and 3 more expired
  12. Red Flag Warning: Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation/Ashland Ranger District Custer Natl Forest, Custer County, Sioux Ranger District Custer National Forest and 1 more, MT and SD Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation/Ashland Ranger District Custer Natl Forest, Custer County, Sioux Ranger District Custer National Forest and 1 more expired
  13. Red Flag Warning: Pine Ridge Area, SD Pine Ridge Area expired
  14. Red Flag Warning: Fall River County Area, SD Fall River County Area expired
  15. Red Flag Warning: Fall River County Area, Northern Campbell, Southern Campbell and 2 more, SD and WY Fall River County Area, Northern Campbell, Southern Campbell and 2 more expired
  16. Red Flag Warning: Gallatin National Forest, Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County, Stillwater County and 10 more, MT and WY Gallatin National Forest, Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County, Stillwater County and 10 more expired
  17. Red Flag Warning: Northern Foot Hills, Butte County Area, Northern Campbell and 4 more, SD and WY Northern Foot Hills, Butte County Area, Northern Campbell and 4 more expired
  18. Red Flag Warning: Gallatin National Forest, Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County, Stillwater County and 10 more, MT and WY Gallatin National Forest, Wheatland County/Sweet Grass County, Stillwater County and 10 more expired
  19. Red Flag Warning: Fall River County Area and Butte County Area, SD and WY Fall River County Area and Butte County Area expired
  20. Red Flag Warning: Fall River County Area and Butte County Area, SD and WY Fall River County Area and Butte County Area expired

Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov). A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.

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 South Dakota.

How does South Dakota compare with its neighbours?

Nebraska gets the most on South Dakota's border: 99 a year in 2021-2025.

StateA year, 2021-2025A year, 2008-2025Rank of all states
Nebraska99714th
Wyoming61617th
South Dakota503110th
Montana424212th
Iowa281517th
Minnesota272218th
North Dakota181720th

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 14, 2026.

More records for South Dakota