Red Flag Warning Issued for Western and North Central Nebraska Through Sunday Evening
Critical fire weather conditions are expected across western and north central Nebraska on Sunday afternoon, with near-record temperatures and gusty winds creating a high risk for rapid fire spread.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a Red Flag Warning for western and north central Nebraska. This alert indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or imminent. The combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures is expected to contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Affected Areas
The warning covers all of western and north central Nebraska, specifically including:
- Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR (Fire Weather Zone 204)
- Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest (Fire Weather Zone 206)
- Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie National Forest (Fire Weather Zone 208)
- Loup Rivers Basin (Fire Weather Zone 209)
- Frenchman Basin (Fire Weather Zone 210)
- Loess Plains (Fire Weather Zone 219)
What You Should Do
Residents are urged to prepare for hazardous conditions. Under these circumstances, any fire starts will likely grow and spread rapidly. Outdoor burning should be avoided, and extreme caution should be exercised with any activities that could produce sparks or flames.
Expected Conditions
- Temperatures: Near record highs reaching up to 69 degrees.
- Relative Humidity: Levels falling as low as 14 percent.
- Winds: Southwest winds ranging from 10 to 20 mph, with gusts reaching up to 30 mph.
- Lightning: No lightning is expected during this weather event.
Timeline
The Red Flag Warning is effective on Sunday, February 15, from 12:00 PM CST (11:00 AM MST) until 6:00 PM CST (5:00 PM MST).
Source: NOAA Official Notice