...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY EVENING ACROSS NORTHEASTERN WYOMING AND WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA...

.Hot, dry, and windy conditions will support widespread critical fire weather conditions today, mainly in the afternoon and evening. Temperatures will range from the 80s to mid 90s with minimum humidities dropping to as low as 9%. Meanwhile, southwesterly wind speeds have been increasing as a cold front approaches the region. Sustained winds will be at 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 35 to 45 mph. Scattered thunderstorms are possible across western to central South Dakota this afternoon and evening. These storms may contain cloud-to-ground lightning and erratic winds with gusts in excess of 50 mph while producing very little precip. This could lead to fire initiation. Conditions will improve Wednesday evening as temperatures fall, humidity rises, and a cold front quickly crosses the area.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 314 Northern Campbell, 315 Southern Campbell, 316 Crook County Plains, 317 Weston County Plains, 318 Wyoming Black Hills, 319 Northern Black Hills, 320 Central Black Hills, 321 Southern Black Hills, 322 Fall River County Area, 323 Northern Foot Hills, 324 Eastern Foot Hills, 325 Custer County Plains, 326 Pine Ridge Area, 327 Butte County Area, 328 Perkins County, 329 West Central Plains, 330 Ziebach County, 331 Haakon County Area, 332 Badlands Area, 333 Bennett County Area, 334 Mellette and Todd Counties and 335 Tripp County.

* WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 9 percent.

* IMPACTS...The combination of gusty winds and low relative humidity would produce critical fire weather conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. close