Red Flag Warning Issued for Central Iowa: Critical Fire Weather Conditions Expected Wednesday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions. This alert, which replaces the previous Fire Weather Watch, indicates that hazardous conditions conducive to extreme fire behavior are imminent or occurring.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad geographic scope including all of central, north central, and south central Iowa. Affected counties include:

• North Central: Emmet, Kossuth, Winnebago, Worth, Hancock, Cerro Gordo, Wright, Franklin, Butler, Bremer, Humboldt.
• Central: Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Sac, Calhoun, Webster, Hamilton, Hardin, Grundy, Black Hawk, Crawford, Carroll, Greene, Boone, Story, Marshall, Tama, Audubon, Guthrie, Dallas, Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek.
• South Central: Cass, Adair, Madison, Warren, Marion, Mahaska, Adams, Union, Clarke, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Taylor, Ringgold, Decatur, Wayne, Appanoose, and Davis.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised that any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. A Red Flag Warning means that a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Residents should prepare for these conditions and avoid activities that could spark a fire.

Expected Conditions

• Wind: West winds sustained between 25 to 35 mph, with gusts reaching 40 to 50 mph.
• Humidity: Minimum relative humidity values are expected to drop between 12% and 22%.
• Fire Hazard: Strong, gusty winds combined with very low humidity and cured fuels will lead to conditions conducive for very fast fire growth.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM CST on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.