RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ WEDNESDAY TO 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ THURSDAY FOR RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES, VERY LOW HUMIDITY, AND GUSTY WINDS FOR ALL OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY MORNING...

The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a Red Flag Warning for record high temperatures, very low humidity, and gusty winds, which is in effect from 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ Wednesday to 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ Thursday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, Fire Weather Zone 206 Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest, Fire Weather Zone 208 Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie National Forest, Fire Weather Zone 209 Loup Rivers Basin, Fire Weather Zone 210 Frenchman Basin and Fire Weather Zone 219 Loess Plains.

* TIMING...11 AM CDT Wednesday through 11 AM CDT Thursday.

* WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph Wednesday afternoon. A sharp wind shift from west to north is expected Thursday morning, with north winds 20 to 30 with gusts up to 45 mph expected.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 12 to 20 percent Wednesday afternoon. Poor overnight humidity recovery to 50 to 60 percent Thursday morning.

* TEMPERATURES...In the upper 80s to low 90s.

* LIGHTNING...Isolated dry lightning is possible after sunset Wednesday across portions of western Nebraska and the Sandhills. While the threat is low, a few showers may be robust enough to create sporadic lightning strikes and gusty, erratic winds.

* IMPACTS...Any fire starts may spread rapidly and be difficult to control.

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