Red Flag Warning Issued for Southeast Kansas and Southern Missouri Due to Critical Fire Conditions

Alert Details

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield, MO, has issued a Red Flag Warning for southeast Kansas and southern Missouri. This alert signifies that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or imminent due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following fire weather zones and counties:

• Southeast Kansas: Cherokee and Crawford.
• Southern Missouri: Hickory, Camden, Pulaski, Phelps, Barton, Cedar, Polk, Dallas, Laclede, Texas, Jasper, Dade, Greene, Webster, Wright, Newton, Lawrence, Christian, Douglas, Howell, McDonald, Barry, Stone, Taney, and Ozark.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are strongly advised to avoid outdoor burning. Any fire that develops under these conditions will catch and spread quickly. Extreme fire behavior is possible, and individuals should remain vigilant and prepared to respond to any fire outbreaks.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: Southwest winds between 15 and 25 mph, with gusts reaching up to 45 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 24 percent.
• Temperatures: High temperatures are forecast to reach up to 63 degrees.
• Impacts: The combination of dry air and high wind speeds creates an environment where fires can become uncontrollable very quickly.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 11:00 AM CST this morning until 7:00 PM CST this evening, February 24, 2026.