Red Flag Warning Issued for Rawlins and Sherman Counties; Critical Fire Conditions Expected Sunday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Goodland, Kansas, has issued a Red Flag Warning due to critical fire weather conditions involving strong winds and low relative humidity. The warning is effective for Sunday, February 15. Additionally, a Fire Weather Watch has been issued for Tuesday, February 17, as hazardous conditions are expected to return.

Affected Areas

The alert covers the following regions in Northwest Kansas:

• Rawlins County (Fire Weather Zone 002)
• Sherman County (Fire Weather Zone 013)

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas should exercise extreme caution to prevent wildfire starts:

• Comply with all local burn bans and outdoor burning regulations.
• Avoid driving or parking vehicles on dry grass or brush.
• Maintain vehicle brakes and tires properly and ensure tow chains are secured to avoid dragging, which can create sparks.
• Never toss lit cigarettes onto the ground.
• Monitor later forecasts for updates regarding the Fire Weather Watch on Tuesday.

Expected Conditions

For Sunday, southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph are expected, with gusts reaching up to 30 mph. Relative humidity levels are forecast to drop as low as 14 percent. These conditions create an environment for unpredictable fire behavior, where any fires that develop may rapidly grow and spread out of control.

Conditions are expected to be more severe on Tuesday, with sustained southwest winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts potentially reaching 55 mph. A cold front passing through Tuesday afternoon may cause winds to shift from the southwest to the west.

Timeline

• Red Flag Warning: In effect from 11:00 AM MST (noon CST) to 5:00 PM MST (6:00 PM CST) on Sunday, February 15.
• Fire Weather Watch: In effect from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening, February 17.