Red Flag Warning Issued for South-Central South Dakota

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Rapid City has issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds and low relative humidity. This alert, issued by NWS Rapid City SD, indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will develop shortly.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions in South Dakota:

• Bennett County Area (Fire Weather Zone 333)
• Mellette and Todd Counties (Fire Weather Zone 334)

What You Should Do

Residents and visitors in the warning area should prepare for extreme fire behavior. The National Weather Service advises that the combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to dangerous fire conditions. Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: Northwest winds at 15 to 25 mph with gusts reaching up to 30 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 15 to 18 percent.
• Environmental Factors: Existing D1 to D2 drought conditions in the region are expected to exacerbate the fire potential.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 12:00 PM MST (1:00 PM CST) on Friday, February 27, until 6:00 PM MST (7:00 PM CST) the same day.