Red Flag Warning Issued for Northwest Kansas and Southwest Nebraska Through Saturday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Goodland, Kansas, has issued a Red Flag Warning due to critical fire weather conditions. The alert is triggered by a combination of strong winds and low relative humidity, creating an environment where fires can rapidly spread. This alert is classified with a severity level of ‘Severe’ and a certainty of ‘Likely’.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following fire weather zones across two states:

• Kansas: Decatur, Norton, Sheridan, Graham, and Gove counties.
• Nebraska: Red Willow County.

Expected Conditions

Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate through the end of the week, creating high-risk fire environments:

• Winds: On Friday, west-southwest winds will gust between 25 and 35 mph. On Saturday, south winds of 5 to 15 mph are expected, with gusts reaching up to 25 mph. There is a possibility that winds could be stronger than forecast if cloud cover is minimal.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are forecast to drop as low as 13 percent.
• Temperature: Temperatures are expected to reach the 70s on Friday, with even warmer conditions predicted for Saturday as southwesterly winds persist.
• Fire Behavior: The NWS warns of unpredictable fire behavior. Any fires that develop may rapidly grow and spread out of control.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are urged to take the following precautions to prevent wildfire ignition:

• Strictly comply with all local burn bans and regulations.
• Avoid driving vehicles on dry grass or brush.
• Maintain vehicle brakes and tires and ensure tow chains are secured to avoid dragging, which can create sparks.
• Never toss lit cigarettes onto the ground.

Timeline

The specific Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity is in effect from noon to 9 PM CDT Saturday, March 14. However, critical conditions are expected to begin as early as Friday afternoon, March 13. The overall alert expires at 8:00 PM MDT on Saturday.