Red Flag Warning Issued for South-Central South Dakota as Critical Fire Conditions Develop
This alert is no longer in effect.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).
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The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for south-central South Dakota, citing low humidity and gusty winds that create an environment for rapid fire spread.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Red Flag Warning
- Affected area
- South-Central South Dakota
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Sioux Falls SD
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 South-Central South Dakota.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a Red Flag Warning for south-central South Dakota. The alert, classified as a critical fire weather warning, is in effect to address the immediate threat of extreme fire behavior caused by a combination of strong winds and low relative humidity.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the following counties in South Dakota:
- Gregory
- Jerauld
- Sanborn
- Brule
- Aurora
- Davison
- Charles Mix
- Douglas
What You Should Do
Residents in the affected areas are strongly advised to avoid all outdoor burning. A Red Flag Warning signifies that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent. Under these conditions, any fire that develops is likely to catch and spread rapidly. Residents should prepare for potential fire hazards and monitor local updates.
Expected Conditions
Weather conditions in the warning area are expected to reach critical thresholds:
- Winds: Southerly winds between 10 to 20 mph, with gusts reaching up to 30 mph.
- Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 18 percent.
- Hazards: The combination of these winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures will contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Timeline
The Red Flag Warning is effective immediately as of February 15. The period of highest concern begins at 12:00 PM CST and is scheduled to remain in effect until 6:00 PM CST this evening, February 15.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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