Red Flag Warning Issued for Western North Dakota Due to High Winds and Low Humidity
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for western North Dakota as extreme winds up to 70 mph and low humidity create critical fire conditions.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Bismarck has issued a Red Flag Warning for portions of western North Dakota. This alert signifies that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent due to a combination of strong winds and low relative humidity.
Affected Areas
The warning impacts several counties across western North Dakota, including:
- McKenzie
- Dunn
- Golden Valley
- Billings
- Stark
- Slope
- Hettinger
- Bowman
- Adams
What You Should Do
Residents in the affected areas should prepare for extreme fire behavior. Any fires that ignite could spread rapidly and become difficult to control or suppress. It is advised to avoid any activities that could cause sparks or open flames during this period of critical weather.
Expected Conditions
- Winds: West-northwesterly winds are expected to be sustained at around 40 mph, with peak gusts reaching as high as 70 mph.
- Humidity: Minimum relative humidity levels are forecast to drop as low as 20 percent during the mid to late afternoon.
- Fire Behavior: The combination of high wind speeds and dry air will contribute to rapid fire growth and difficult suppression efforts.
Timeline
The Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon CDT (11 AM MDT) today, March 12, 2026, through 8 PM CDT (7 PM MDT) this evening.
Source: NOAA Official Notice
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