Red Flag Warning

FROM: NWS North Platte NE
AREA: Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR; Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest; Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie National Forest; Loup Rivers Basin; Frenchman Basin; Loess Plains
SENT: 2026-02-15T07:01:00-06:00

Red Flag Warning issued February 15 at 7:01AM CST until February 15 at 6:00PM CST by NWS North Platte NE

…CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON…

.A combination of near record high temperatures, low relative
humidity, and gusty southwest winds are expected to lead to
critical fire weather conditions across all of western and north
central Nebraska.

* 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…Noon CST through 6 PM CST or 11 AM MST through 5 PM
MST.

* WINDS…Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…As low as 13 percent.

* TEMPERATURES…Up to 70.

* LIGHTNING…Not expected

* IMPACTS…Any fire starts will rapidly grow and spread.

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.

Alert Expiration: 2026-02-15T18:00:00-06:00