Red Flag Warning Issued for Central and South Central Kansas Due to Extreme Fire Danger

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a Red Flag Warning for extreme grassland fire danger. This alert, which replaces the previous Fire Weather Watch, was issued by NWS Wichita KS and is effective for the afternoon and evening hours of February 17, 2026.

Affected Areas

The warning covers specific geographic regions in central and south central Kansas, including the following counties:

• Saline
• Rice
• McPherson
• Reno
• Kingman

What You Should Do

Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged during this period. Residents and visitors should be aware that any ignitions will have the potential to become wildfires quickly and spread rapidly. It is recommended to advise appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this fire weather product and prepare for critical fire conditions.

Expected Conditions

Meteorologists expect the following conditions to contribute to extreme fire behavior:

• Winds: Southwest winds between 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching up to 45 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels are forecast to drop as low as 23 percent.
• Hazard: Extreme grassland fire danger resulting from the combination of strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is in effect starting at 12:00 PM CST today, February 17, 2026. The alert is scheduled to remain in effect until 9:00 PM CST this evening.