Red Flag Warning Issued for Pine Ridge and Nebraska National Forest Through Thursday Evening

Source: NOAA · Western Nebraska

This alert is no longer in effect.

NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).

Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

NWS Cheyenne has issued a Red Flag Warning for fire weather zones 434 and 435, citing wind gusts up to 75 mph and low humidity levels that could lead to rapid fire spread.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Red Flag Warning
Affected area
Western Nebraska
Issued
April 6, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Cheyenne WY

Fire-weather notices describe conditions that can support rapid fire spread; they do not report that a fire is present. Check local emergency sources for any active incident.

Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Western Nebraska.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Cheyenne, Wyoming, has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions. The alert is currently in effect and is classified as a severe threat with likely certainty.

Affected Areas

The warning covers fire weather zones 434 and 435. Specific geographic regions include:

  • Pine Ridge and the Nebraska National Forest
  • Box Butte
  • South Sioux
  • Niobrara River

What You Should Do

Outdoor burning is strictly not recommended during this period. Residents and visitors in the affected zones should prepare for critical fire conditions. A Red Flag Warning indicates that a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Any fires that develop under these conditions will likely spread rapidly.

Expected Conditions

  • Wind: West winds ranging from 30 to 50 mph, with powerful gusts reaching up to 75 mph.
  • Humidity: Relative humidity levels are expected to drop to between 17 and 22 percent.
  • Hazards: The primary hazard is the potential for rapid fire spread due to the extreme wind speeds and dry air.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective as of 11:39 AM MDT on March 12, 2026. The warning is scheduled to remain in effect until 9:00 PM MDT this evening.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
NWS Cheyenne has issued a Red Flag Warning for fire weather zones 434 and 435, citing wind gusts up to 75 mph and low humidity levels that could lead to rapid fire spread.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Western Nebraska. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.