Red Flag Warning Issued for Far Western Kansas: Critical Wildfire Danger Expected Thursday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a Red Flag Warning for far western Kansas. This alert replaces the previous Fire Weather Watch and indicates that critical fire weather conditions are expected to develop due to a combination of strong winds and low relative humidity.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically impacts the following regions in Kansas:

• Hamilton County (Fire Weather Zone 061)
• Stanton County (Fire Weather Zone 074)
• Morton County (Fire Weather Zone 084)

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised that outdoor burning is not recommended. A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent. Residents should prepare for the possibility of extreme fire behavior. Any fire that develops under these conditions will likely catch and spread rapidly.

Expected Conditions

Weather conditions in the warning area are expected to reach critical thresholds:

• Winds: South winds sustained at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching up to 40 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 15 percent.
• Hazards: The combination of high winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures will contribute to significant wildfire danger.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 1:00 PM CST (noon MST) today, Thursday, March 5, 2026. The alert is scheduled to remain in effect until 7:00 PM CST (6:00 PM MST) this evening.