NWS Billings MTFW.W 0015October 22, 2026
Red Flag Warning: Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation/Ashland Ranger District Custer Natl Forest, Sioux Ranger District Custer National Forest and Sheridan County/Casper BLM, MT and SD
The National Weather Service office in Billings issued a red flag warning for Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation/Ashland Ranger District Custer Natl Forest, Sioux Ranger District Custer National Forest and Sheridan County/Casper BLM in Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, in force until 9:00 p.m. local time on October 23. It was the 15th red flag warning the NWS office in Billings issued in 2026. Montana had 3 red flag warnings in October 2026, against 3 in an average October of 2008-2025 (Montana's red flag warnings by year).
Warning
In force for 9 hours
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Billings MT
- Area
- Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation/Ashland Ranger District Custer Natl Forest, Sioux Ranger District Custer National Forest and Sheridan County/Casper BLM
- State
- Montana
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 12:14 p.m. MDT, October 22, 2026
- In force from
- 12:00 p.m. MDT, October 23, 2026
- Expires
- 9:00 p.m. MDT, October 23, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Severe, Likely, Expected
- VTEC event
- KBYZ FW.W 0015
- Official source
- National Weather Service: the notice at its source
Red Flag Warnings in Montana since 2008Every warning type in Montana
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. AreaZine rebuilds this page from the agency's record; the agency's page is the one to act on. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.
The notice as issued
The National Weather Service in Billings has issued a Red Flag Warning...which is in effect from noon to 9 PM MDT Friday. * IMPACTS: Low humidities, unseasonably warm temperatures, strong gusty winds, and a wind shift with a cold front will create erratic fire behavior and difficult control of new or existing fires. * AFFECTED AREA: In North Central WY Fire Zone...274. In Southeast MT Fire Zone...131. In Southeast MT and Northwest SD Fire Zone...133. * COUNTIES AFFECTED: In North Central WY...Sheridan. In Northwest SD...Harding. In South Central MT...Big Horn. In Southeast MT...Carter...Fallon...Powder River...Rosebud Treasure. The most dangerous conditions are expected along and southeast of a Baker Montana to Sheridan Wyoming line. * COLD FRONT: Late afternoon into early evening. * WIND: Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. Winds shifting to the northwest behind the cold front, with continued gusts up to 45 mph through late Friday night. * HUMIDITY: 15 to 25 percent. * TEMPERATURES: 75 to 85 degrees.
What the agency told people to do
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. The text is the agency's, unedited. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.