AREAS AFFECTED : CENTRAL BLACK HILLS; SOUTHERN BLACK HILLS; FALL RIVER COUNTY AREA; NORTHERN FOOT HILLS; EASTERN FOOT HILLS; CUSTER COUNTY PLAINS; PINE RIDGE AREA; BUTTE COUNTY AREA; WEST CENTRAL PLAINS; BADLANDS AREA; NORTHERN CAMPBELL; SOUTHERN CAMPBELL; CROOK COUNTY PLAINS; WESTON COUNTY PLAINS
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THURSDAY ACROSS PORTIONS OF
NORTHEASTERN WYOMING AND WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA...
.Anomalously warm temperatures (70s to low 80s), very dry air
(relative humidity as low as 10 percent), and gusty west winds
(gusts 25 to 35 mph) will result in critical fire weather
conditions this afternoon. Humidity recovery will be poor through
daybreak today, particularly for the Black Hills and northeastern
Wyoming. Strongest winds are expected across southern Campbell
County and northwestern South Dakota where gusts to 35 mph are
expected. Lesser confidence in critical gusts elsewhere, however
between the low humidity, dry antecedent conditions, and transient
critical gusts, critical fire weather conditions can be expected
for much of the area.
Have added the Northern and Wyoming Black Hills to the Red Flag
Warning. Anomalously warm temperatures, very dry air, and gusty
winds will result in critical fire weather conditions. Snow cover
may mitigate fire risk in some areas but confident enough in
widespread critical fire weather conditions to add these zones.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 314 Northern Campbell, 315
Southern Campbell, 316 Crook County Plains, 317 Weston County
Plains, 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, 329 West Central Plains and 332 Badlands
Area.
* WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent.
* IMPACTS...The combination of gusty winds and low relative
humidity would produce critical fire weather conditions.