Red Flag Warning Issued for Western South Dakota and Northeastern Wyoming
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Tuesday, citing high winds and low humidity that could lead to extreme fire behavior across the region.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Rapid City has issued a Red Flag Warning due to gusty winds and low relative humidity. This alert indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will develop shortly. This warning replaces the previously issued Fire Weather Watch.
Affected Areas
The warning impacts multiple fire weather zones across western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming, including:
- South Dakota: Central Black Hills, Southern Black Hills, Fall River County Area, Eastern Foot Hills, Custer County Plains, Pine Ridge Area, West Central Plains, Haakon County Area, Badlands Area, Bennett County Area, Mellette and Todd Counties, and Tripp County.
- Wyoming: Southern Campbell and Weston County Plains.
What You Should Do
Residents and visitors in the affected areas should exercise extreme caution as the combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Residents are encouraged to prepare for potential fire hazards and monitor local conditions closely.
Expected Conditions
- Winds: Westerly winds are forecast at 25 to 35 mph, with gusts reaching up to 55 mph. The strongest gusts are expected in portions of northeast Wyoming and far southwest South Dakota.
- Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 15 percent as very dry air spreads across the region.
- Impacts: The combination of receptive fuels, high winds, and low humidity will support critical fire weather conditions.
Timeline
The Red Flag Warning is in effect on Tuesday, February 17, from 11:00 AM MST (noon CST) until 6:00 PM MST (7:00 PM CST).
Source: NOAA Official Notice