Red Flag Warning Issued for Parts of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota Through Thursday Evening

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a Red Flag Warning for portions of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. This alert indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent. The warning is driven by a combination of strong winds and low relative humidity.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad geographic area across three states:

• Iowa: Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Sioux, O’Brien, Clay, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Woodbury, and Ida counties.
• Nebraska: Dixon and Dakota counties.
• South Dakota: Beadle, Gregory, Jerauld, Sanborn, Miner, Lake, Brule, Aurora, Davison, Hanson, McCook, Minnehaha, Charles Mix, Douglas, Hutchinson, Turner, Lincoln, Bon Homme, Yankton, Clay, and Union counties.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are strongly advised to avoid outdoor burning. Any fire that develops under these conditions will catch and spread quickly. A Red Flag Warning means that the combination of weather elements can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Residents should remain vigilant and prepare for potential fire hazards.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: West winds between 20 to 30 mph are expected, with gusts reaching as high as 45 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Humidity levels are forecast to drop as low as 24 percent.
• Hazards: The combination of high winds and dry air will facilitate rapid fire spread.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective immediately and will remain in place until 9:00 PM CDT this evening, March 12, 2026.