Red Flag Warning Issued for North-Central Arkansas: Dangerous Wildfire Conditions Expected Thursday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Little Rock has issued a Red Flag Warning for north-central Arkansas. This alert indicates that critical fire weather conditions are expected, creating a high risk for extreme fire behavior.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the following geographic regions and counties:

• Marion County
• Baxter County
• Boone County (Except Southwest; including Higher Elevations)
• Newton County (Higher and Lower Elevations)
• Searcy County (Lower Elevations; Northwest Higher Elevations; and Eastern, Central, and Southern Higher Elevations)

What You Should Do

Residents within the warning area are urged to exercise extreme caution. Outdoor burning is not recommended as any fires that develop could spread rapidly. A Red Flag Warning means that the combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to dangerous fire conditions. Residents should prepare accordingly and monitor local updates.

Expected Conditions

Weather conditions contributing to the hazard include:

• Winds: South and southwest winds ranging from 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are forecast to drop into the 20th percentile.
• Hazard: Rapid fire spread is likely if ignition occurs.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 9:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST on Thursday, February 19, 2026.