Red Flag Warning Issued for Parts of South Dakota and Wyoming

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Rapid City, SD, has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions. This alert is triggered by the combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and cured fuels ahead of an approaching cold front.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions and Fire Weather Zones:

• South Dakota: Fall River County Area (Zone 322)
• Wyoming: Southern Campbell (Zone 315) and Weston County Plains (Zone 317)

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected zones should prepare for critical fire weather conditions. A Red Flag Warning indicates that extreme fire behavior is possible. Residents are urged to exercise extreme caution, as the combination of strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to rapid fire spread and unpredictable behavior.

Expected Conditions

Weather conditions are expected to reach critical thresholds this afternoon:

• Winds: West winds ranging from 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching up to 45 mph.
• Humidity: Minimum afternoon relative humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 14 percent.
• Hazardous Factors: These weather elements, combined with cured fuels, will result in critical fire weather conditions ahead of a cold front.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective starting at 12:00 PM MDT today, March 9, 2026. The alert is scheduled to remain in effect until 6:00 PM MDT this evening.