Red Flag Warning

FROM: NWS North Platte NE
AREA: Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest; Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie National Forest; Loup Rivers Basin; Loess Plains
SENT: 2026-02-16T11:26:00-06:00

Red Flag Warning issued February 16 at 11:26AM CST until February 17 at 8:00PM CST by NWS North Platte NE

…THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION…

The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a Red
Flag Warning for near record temperatures, very low humidity, and
strong west winds, which is in effect from noon to 8 PM CST
Tuesday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA…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 and Fire Weather Zone
219 Loess Plains.

* TIMING…Noon to 8 PM CST (11 AM to 7 PM MST) Tuesday.

* WINDS…West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…As low as 10 to 20 percent.

* TEMPERATURES…Upper 60s to 70s.

* LIGHTNING…None expected.

* IMPACTS…Any fire starts will have a high potential to spread
rapidly and will be difficult to control.

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: 2026-02-16T21:00:00-06:00