Red Flag Warning Issued for Southeast Wyoming and Western Nebraska Panhandle

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Cheyenne has issued a Red Flag Warning for portions of Wyoming and western Nebraska. This alert, which upgrades a previous Fire Weather Watch, indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the following geographic regions:

• Wyoming: Fire weather zones 417, 418, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, and 433. This includes Niobrara, Lower Elevations of Converse, Thunder Basin National Grassland, Middle North Platte River Basin, Southern Laramie Valley, Southern Laramie Range, Laramie Foothills and High Plains, Laramie East High Plains, Bordeaux, Chugwater, Wheatland, and Goshen.
• Nebraska: Fire weather zones 434, 435, 436, and 437. This includes Pine Ridge, Nebraska National Forest, Box Butte, South Sioux, Niobrara River, Lower North Platte River Basin, Scottsbluff National Monument, and Lodgepole Creek in the Southern Nebraska Panhandle.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas should exercise extreme caution. Outdoor burning is not recommended, as any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. The National Weather Service advises that the combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Expected Conditions

• Wind: West to southwest winds ranging from 15 to 20 MPH, with gusts reaching up to 30 MPH.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are expected to fall between 12 and 15 percent.
• Hazards: Critical fire weather conditions resulting from dry and breezy environment.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM MST on Sunday, February 15, 2026.