Red Flag Warning Issued for Southwest Kansas as High Winds and Low Humidity Create Wildfire Risk

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a Red Flag Warning for southwest Kansas. This alert is triggered by a combination of strong winds and low relative humidity, creating a volatile environment for wildfires. The Fire Weather Watch previously in effect has been replaced by this warning.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following Fire Weather Zones in Kansas:

• Hamilton
• Kearny
• Finney
• Stanton
• Grant
• Haskell
• Gray
• Morton
• Stevens
• Seward
• Meade

What You Should Do

Residents are advised that any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is strictly not recommended. A Red Flag Warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. Residents should prepare for potential extreme fire behavior caused by the combination of strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: Southwest winds between 35 to 45 mph, with gusts reaching up to 70 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 10 percent.
• Impacts: Extremely rapid fire spread is expected for any ignitions.

Timeline

The alert remains in effect during two primary windows:

• Tuesday, Feb 17: Until 8:00 PM CST (7:00 PM MST).
• Wednesday, Feb 18: From 11:00 AM CST (10:00 AM MST) to 8:00 PM CST (7:00 PM MST).