Red Flag Warning Issued for Portions of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota Through Thursday Night

Weather Alerts high NOAA · · Tri-State Region (IA, NE, SD)

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of the tri-state area due to strong winds and low humidity, creating critical fire weather conditions on Thursday.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity. This alert replaces the previous Fire Weather Watch for the region.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the following geographic regions:

  • 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.

Expected Conditions

Critical fire weather conditions are expected based on the following parameters:

  • Winds: Southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph are forecast, with gusts reaching up to 45 mph.
  • Relative Humidity: Humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 25 percent.
  • Fire Behavior: A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures will contribute to extreme fire behavior. Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly.

What You Should Do

  • Outdoor Burning: Outdoor burning is not recommended under these conditions.
  • Precautionary Actions: Residents should be prepared for critical fire weather. A Red Flag Warning means that hazardous conditions are either occurring now or will shortly.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 12:00 PM (noon) to 9:00 PM CDT on Thursday, March 12.

Source: NOAA Official Notice

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this weather alerts alert about?
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of the tri-state area due to strong winds and low humidity, creating critical fire weather conditions on Thursday.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Tri-State Region (IA, NE, SD). Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more weather alerts alerts?
Browse all weather alerts alerts on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.