Red Flag Warning Issued for South Central Nebraska and North Central Kansas

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Hastings has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity. This alert replaces the previous Fire Weather Watch as conditions have become likely for critical fire behavior.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad region across two states:

• North Central Kansas: Phillips, Smith, Jewell, Rooks, Osborne, and Mitchell counties.
• South Central Nebraska: Valley, Greeley, Nance, Sherman, Howard, Merrick, Polk, Dawson, Buffalo, Hall, Hamilton, York, Gosper, Phelps, Kearney, Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Furnas, Harlan, Franklin, Webster, Nuckolls, and Thayer counties.

What You Should Do

Outdoor burning is strictly not recommended during this period. Residents should be aware that any fire that develops will spread quickly due to the environmental conditions. A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. The combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: Southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected, with gusts reaching up to 40 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Humidity levels are forecast to drop as low as 15 percent.
• Impacts: The primary hazard is the rapid spread of any fires that ignite.

Timeline

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