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

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Cheyenne has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions. This alert represents an upgrade from the previous Fire Weather Watch for the region.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts multiple fire weather zones across southeast Wyoming and the Nebraska panhandle, specifically:

• Nebraska: Pine Ridge/Nebraska National Forest, Box Butte/South Sioux/Niobrara River, Lower North Platte River Basin/Scottsbluff National Monument, and Lodgepole Creek/Southern Nebraska Panhandle.
• Wyoming: Niobrara/Lower Elevations of Converse/Thunder Basin National Grassland, Middle North Platte River Basin/Niobrara and Converse High Plains, Laramie Foothills and High Plains, Laramie East High Plains, Bordeaux/Chugwater/Wheatland, and Goshen/Middle-Lower North Platte River Basin.

The highest threat is expected just east of the Laramie Range across southeast Wyoming and the Interstate 25 corridor extending into the Nebraska panhandle.

What You Should Do

Residents are advised that any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. Residents should prepare for extreme fire behavior due to the combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures.

Expected Conditions

• Wind: In the morning, southwest winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph are expected. By late morning and afternoon, winds will shift to the west at 25 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 65 mph possible.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are forecast between 10 and 20 percent. Poor humidity recoveries are expected as early as 6:00 AM.
• Temperature: Mild temperatures will combine with low humidity and high winds to create extremely critical fire weather conditions.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 5:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST on Tuesday, February 17.