Red Flag Warning Issued for Southeast Wyoming and Nebraska Panhandle Through Friday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Cheyenne has issued a Red Flag Warning for portions of Wyoming and Nebraska. The alert is triggered by a combination of strong winds and low relative humidity, which creates an environment conducive to extreme fire behavior.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions and fire weather zones:

• Fire Weather Zone 434: Pine Ridge and the Nebraska National Forest.
• Fire Weather Zone 417: Niobrara and lower elevations of Converse/Thunder Basin National Grassland.
• Fire Weather Zone 418: Middle North Platte River Basin, including the Niobrara and Converse High Plains.

The most critical conditions are expected along the Interstate 80 corridor east of the Laramie Range, extending into the southern Nebraska Panhandle.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised that outdoor burning is not recommended. Because of the atmospheric conditions, any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Residents should prepare for critical fire weather and monitor local updates.

Expected Conditions

• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are expected to drop between 15 and 20 percent. Poor humidity recovery is anticipated overnight on Thursday.
• Wind: West to northwest winds of 20 to 25 MPH are expected on Thursday, with gusts reaching up to 35 MPH. On Friday, winds are forecast to strengthen, with gusts potentially exceeding 45 MPH.
• Impacts: The combination of dry air and high winds will facilitate the rapid spread of any new fire ignitions.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is in effect starting at 11:00 AM MST on Thursday, February 26. The alert is scheduled to remain in place until 6:00 PM MST on Friday, February 27.