Alert archive / South Dakota / Red Flag Warnings in 2012

Red Flag Warning 4, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

March 17, 2012

NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this red flag warning at Mar 17, 2012, 10:43 AM CDT. It took effect at Mar 18, 2012, 2:00 PM CDT. It was in force for 8 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 17, 2012, 10:43 AM CDT (15:43 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 18, 2012, 2:00 PM CDT
Expired
Mar 18, 2012, 10:00 PM CDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Sioux Falls, SD

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

855 
WWUS83 KFSD 171543
RFWFSD

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1043 AM CDT SAT MAR 17 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH SDZ258 SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

...RED FLAG WARNING WEST OF THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY SUNDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

.SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BECOME QUITE STRONG ON SUNDAY...AVERAGING 25
TO 45 MPH OVER MANY LOCATIONS. ALONG AND WEST OF THE JAMES RIVER
VALLEY...HUMIDITY VALUES WILL ALSO BE DRY. THESE
FACTORS...COMBINED WITH DORMANT VEGETATION HAS PROMPTED THE
ISSUANCE OF A RED FLAG WARNING FOR AREAS WEST OF INTERSTATE 29.

SDZ255-256-172345-
/O.UPG.KFSD.FW.A.0006.120318T1700Z-120319T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KFSD.FW.W.0004.120318T1700Z-120319T0300Z/
LOWER BRULE AND LAKE ANDES VICINITY-MIDDLE JAMES RIVER VALLEY-
1043 AM CDT SAT MAR 17 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 10 PM CDT SUNDAY FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 255 AND
256...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SIOUX FALLS HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM NOON TO 10 PM CDT SUNDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* AFFECTED AREA...IN SOUTH DAKOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 255 AND 
  256.

* WINDS...SOUTH 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 21 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. A COMBINATION
OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES
WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

SDZ258-172345-
/O.CON.KFSD.FW.A.0006.120318T1700Z-120319T0300Z/
LOWER JAMES RIVER TO LOWER BIG SIOUX RIVER VALLEY-
1043 AM CDT SAT MAR 17 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS...DRY AIR AND DORMANT
VEGETATION...FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 256 AND 258...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...IN SOUTH DAKOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 256 AND 
  258. THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY..EXTENDING 
  FROM THE HURON VICINITY...SOUTHWARD TO AROUND YANKTON. AREAS 
  CLOSE TO INTERSTATE 29 WILL HAVE HIGHER HUMIDITY VALUES... 
  POSSIBLY MODERATING EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR SLIGHTLY. 

* WINDS...SOUTH 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 33 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE 
  DANGEROUS WINDY AND LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS...COUPLED WITH 
  DORMANT VEGETATION. FIRES COULD EXHIBIT EXTREME 
  CHARACTERISTICS...INCLUDING LONG RANGE SPOTTING POTENTIAL AND 
  RAPID MOVEMENT. WITH WIND SPEEDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE FORECAST... 
  FIGHTING FIRES ON THE FLANKS IN THESE SITUATIONS IS ADVISED... 
  AVOIDING THE HEAD OF THE FIRE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
MAY OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG
WARNINGS.

&&

$$
6 follow-up statements
683 
WWUS83 KFSD 172008
RFWFSD

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
308 PM CDT SAT MAR 17 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH SDZ258 SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

...RED FLAG WARNING WEST OF THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY SUNDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

.SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BECOME QUITE STRONG ON SUNDAY...AVERAGING
25 TO 45 MPH OVER MANY LOCATIONS. ALONG AND WEST OF THE JAMES
RIVER VALLEY...HUMIDITY VALUES WILL ALSO BE DRY. THESE FACTORS...
COMBINED WITH DORMANT VEGETATION HAS PROMPTED THE ISSUANCE OF A
RED FLAG WARNING FOR AREAS WEST OF INTERSTATE 29.

SDZ255-256-180415-
/O.CON.KFSD.FW.W.0004.120318T1700Z-120319T0300Z/
LOWER BRULE AND LAKE ANDES VICINITY-MIDDLE JAMES RIVER VALLEY-
308 PM CDT SAT MAR 17 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 10 PM CDT
SUNDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
255 AND 256...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 10 PM CDT
SUNDAY. 

* AFFECTED AREA...IN SOUTH DAKOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 255 AND 
  256. 

* WINDS...SOUTH 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 21 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE
  DANGEROUS WINDY AND LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS...COUPLED WITH
  DORMANT VEGETATION. FIRES COULD EXHIBIT EXTREME
  CHARACTERISTICS...INCLUDING LONG RANGE SPOTTING POTENTIAL AND
  RAPID MOVEMENT. WITH WIND SPEEDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE FORECAST...
  FIGHTING FIRES ON THE FLANKS IN THESE SITUATIONS IS
  ADVISED...AVOIDING THE HEAD OF THE FIRE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. A COMBINATION
OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES
WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

SDZ258-180415-
/O.CON.KFSD.FW.A.0006.120318T1700Z-120319T0300Z/
LOWER JAMES RIVER TO LOWER BIG SIOUX RIVER VALLEY-
308 PM CDT SAT MAR 17 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS...DRY AIR AND DORMANT
VEGETATION...FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 256 AND 258...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...IN SOUTH DAKOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 256 AND 
  258. THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY..EXTENDING 
  FROM THE HURON VICINITY...SOUTHWARD TO AROUND YANKTON. AREAS 
  CLOSE TO INTERSTATE 29 WILL HAVE HIGHER HUMIDITY VALUES... 
  POSSIBLY MODERATING EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR SLIGHTLY. 

* WINDS...SOUTH 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 33 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE 
  DANGEROUS WINDY AND LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS...COUPLED WITH 
  DORMANT VEGETATION. FIRES COULD EXHIBIT EXTREME 
  CHARACTERISTICS...INCLUDING LONG RANGE SPOTTING POTENTIAL AND 
  RAPID MOVEMENT. WITH WIND SPEEDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE FORECAST... 
  FIGHTING FIRES ON THE FLANKS IN THESE SITUATIONS IS ADVISED... 
  AVOIDING THE HEAD OF THE FIRE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
MAY OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG
WARNINGS.

&&

$$
612 
WWUS83 KFSD 180211
RFWFSD

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
911 PM CDT SAT MAR 17 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR SDZ258 SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

...RED FLAG WARNING WEST OF THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY SUNDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

.SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BECOME QUITE STRONG ON SUNDAY...AVERAGING
25 TO 45 MPH OVER MANY LOCATIONS. ALONG AND WEST OF THE JAMES
RIVER VALLEY...HUMIDITY VALUES WILL ALSO BE DRY. THESE FACTORS...
COMBINED WITH DORMANT VEGETATION HAS PROMPTED THE ISSUANCE OF A
RED FLAG WARNING AND A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR AREAS WEST OF
INTERSTATE 29.

SDZ255-256-181015-
/O.CON.KFSD.FW.W.0004.120318T1700Z-120319T0300Z/
LOWER BRULE AND LAKE ANDES VICINITY-MIDDLE JAMES RIVER VALLEY-
911 PM CDT SAT MAR 17 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 10 PM CDT
SUNDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
255 AND 256...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 10 PM CDT
SUNDAY. 

* AFFECTED AREA...IN SOUTH DAKOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 255 AND 
  256. 

* WINDS...SOUTH 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 22 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE 
  DANGEROUS WINDY AND LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS...COUPLED WITH 
  DORMANT VEGETATION. FIRES COULD EXHIBIT EXTREME 
  CHARACTERISTICS...INCLUDING LONG RANGE SPOTTING POTENTIAL AND 
  RAPID MOVEMENT. WITH WIND SPEEDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE FORECAST... 
  FIGHTING FIRES ON THE FLANKS IN THESE SITUATIONS IS ADVISED... 
  AVOIDING THE HEAD OF THE FIRE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. A COMBINATION
OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES
WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

SDZ258-181015-
/O.CON.KFSD.FW.A.0006.120318T1700Z-120319T0300Z/
LOWER JAMES RIVER TO LOWER BIG SIOUX RIVER VALLEY-
911 PM CDT SAT MAR 17 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS...DRY AIR AND DORMANT
VEGETATION...FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 256 AND 258...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...IN SOUTH DAKOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 256 AND 
  258. THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY..EXTENDING 
  FROM THE HURON VICINITY...SOUTHWARD TO AROUND YANKTON. AREAS 
  CLOSE TO INTERSTATE 29 WILL HAVE HIGHER HUMIDITY VALUES... 
  POSSIBLY MODERATING EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR SLIGHTLY. 

* WINDS...SOUTH 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 34 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE 
  DANGEROUS WINDY AND LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS...COUPLED WITH 
  DORMANT VEGETATION. FIRES COULD EXHIBIT EXTREME 
  CHARACTERISTICS...INCLUDING LONG RANGE SPOTTING POTENTIAL AND 
  RAPID MOVEMENT. WITH WIND SPEEDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE FORECAST... 
  FIGHTING FIRES ON THE FLANKS IN THESE SITUATIONS IS ADVISED... 
  AVOIDING THE HEAD OF THE FIRE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
MAY OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG
WARNINGS.

&&

$$
525 
WWUS83 KFSD 180850
RFWFSD

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
350 AM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR SDZ258 CANCELLED...

...RED FLAG WARNING WEST OF THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY SUNDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

.SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BECOME QUITE STRONG BY MID AND LATE 
AFTERNOON...AVERAGING 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 TO 45 MPH
OVER MANY LOCATIONS. WEST OF THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY...HUMIDITY
VALUES WILL ALSO BE DRY...THEREFORE THE RED FLAG WARNING CONTINUES
FOR THOSE AREAS. IN EXTREME SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA...IT APPEARS
THAT THE MINIMUM HUMIDITY VALUES WILL BE A BIT TOO HIGH TO CREATE
CRITICAL FIRE BEHAVIOR...THEREFORE THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS BEEN
CANCELLED. HOWEVER IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA...THE GRASSLAND FIRE 
DANGER INDEX IS STILL EXTREME DUE TO THE STRONG WINDS.

SDZ258-181000-
/O.CAN.KFSD.FW.A.0006.120318T1700Z-120319T0300Z/
LOWER JAMES RIVER TO LOWER BIG SIOUX RIVER VALLEY-
350 AM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 258...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SIOUX FALLS HAS CANCELLED THE
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EXTREME SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA. 

SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL STILL BE STRONG TODAY...AVERAGING 25
TO 35 MPH THIS AFTERNOON WITH SOME HIGHER GUSTS. HOWEVER MINIMUM
HUMIDITY VALUES ARE PROJECTED TO RANGE FROM 38 TO 45 PERCENT IN
THIS AREA...MEANING THAT CRITICAL FIRE BEHAVIOR IS NOT
ANTICIPATED. THAT SAID...THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX WILL
STILL BE IN THE EXTREME CATEGORY TODAY...WITH ANY FIRES THAT START
EXHIBITING RAPID RATES OF SPREAD. BUT WITH MODESTLY HIGH HUMIDITY
VALUES...FIRE STARTS DUE TO LONG RANGE SPOTTING WILL BE HELD DOWN.

$$

SDZ255-256-181700-
/O.EXT.KFSD.FW.W.0004.120318T1900Z-120319T0300Z/
LOWER BRULE AND LAKE ANDES VICINITY-MIDDLE JAMES RIVER VALLEY-
350 AM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 255 AND 256...

THE RED FLAG WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
10 PM CDT THIS EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...IN SOUTH DAKOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 255 AND
  256. THIS INCLUDES SOUTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA...AS WELL AS THE
  WESTERN PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA...GENERALLY NEAR
  THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY AND POINTS WESTWARD. 

* WINDS...SOUTH 25 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT IN SOUTH CENTRAL SOUTH
  DAKOTA...AND 32 TO 33 PERCENT NEAR THE JAMES RIVER AND POINTS
  WESTWARD IN EAST CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE 
  DANGEROUS WINDY AND LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS...COUPLED WITH 
  DORMANT VEGETATION. FIRES COULD EXHIBIT EXTREME 
  CHARACTERISTICS...INCLUDING LONG RANGE SPOTTING POTENTIAL AND 
  RAPID MOVEMENT. WITH WIND SPEEDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE FORECAST... 
  FIGHTING FIRES ON THE FLANKS IN THESE SITUATIONS IS ADVISED... 
  AVOIDING THE HEAD OF THE FIRE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. A COMBINATION
OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES
WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
847 
WWUS83 KFSD 181635
RFWFSD

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1135 AM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012


...RED FLAG WARNING WEST OF THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

.SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BECOME QUITE STRONG BY MID AND LATE
AFTERNOON...AVERAGING 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 TO 45 MPH
OVER MANY LOCATIONS. WEST OF THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY...HUMIDITY
VALUES WILL ALSO BE DRY...THEREFORE THE RED FLAG WARNING
CONTINUES FOR THOSE AREAS. IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA...THE
GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX IS STILL EXTREME DUE TO THE STRONG
WINDS.

SDZ255-256-190045-
/O.CON.KFSD.FW.W.0004.120318T1900Z-120319T0300Z/
LOWER BRULE AND LAKE ANDES VICINITY-MIDDLE JAMES RIVER VALLEY-
1135 AM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
255 AND 256...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS
EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...IN SOUTH DAKOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 255 AND 
  256. THIS INCLUDES SOUTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA...AS WELL AS THE 
  WESTERN PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA...GENERALLY NEAR 
  THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY AND POINTS WESTWARD. 

* WINDS...SOUTH 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 23 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE 
  DANGEROUS WINDY AND LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS...COUPLED WITH 
  DORMANT VEGETATION. FIRES COULD EXHIBIT EXTREME 
  CHARACTERISTICS...INCLUDING LONG RANGE SPOTTING POTENTIAL AND 
  RAPID MOVEMENT. WITH WIND SPEEDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE FORECAST... 
  FIGHTING FIRES ON THE FLANKS IN THESE SITUATIONS IS ADVISED... 
  AVOIDING THE HEAD OF THE FIRE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. A COMBINATION
OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES
WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
694 
WWUS83 KFSD 181945
RFWFSD

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
245 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WEST OF THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING...

.VERY STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING...AVERAGING
25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 TO 45 MPH OVER MANY LOCATIONS. WEST
OF THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY...HUMIDITY VALUES WILL ALSO BE
DRY...THEREFORE THE RED FLAG WARNING CONTINUES FOR THOSE AREAS. IN
SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA...THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX IS STILL
EXTREME DUE TO THE STRONG WINDS.

SDZ255-256-190300-
/O.CON.KFSD.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120319T0300Z/
LOWER BRULE AND LAKE ANDES VICINITY-MIDDLE JAMES RIVER VALLEY-
245 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES
255 AND 256...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS
EVENING. 

* AFFECTED AREA...IN SOUTH DAKOTA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 255 AND 
  256. THIS INCLUDES SOUTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA...AS WELL AS THE 
  WESTERN PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA...GENERALLY NEAR 
  THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY AND POINTS WESTWARD. 

* WINDS...SOUTH 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 24 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT START WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY DUE TO THE 
  DANGEROUS WINDY AND LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS...COUPLED WITH 
  DORMANT VEGETATION. FIRES COULD EXHIBIT EXTREME 
  CHARACTERISTICS...INCLUDING LONG RANGE SPOTTING POTENTIAL AND 
  RAPID MOVEMENT. WITH WIND SPEEDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE FORECAST... 
  FIGHTING FIRES ON THE FLANKS IN THESE SITUATIONS IS ADVISED... 
  AVOIDING THE HEAD OF THE FIRE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. A COMBINATION
OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES
WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$
004 
WWUS83 KFSD 190235
RFWFSD

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
935 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012


SDZ255-256-190345-
/O.EXP.KFSD.FW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120319T0300Z/
LOWER BRULE AND LAKE ANDES VICINITY-MIDDLE JAMES RIVER VALLEY-
935 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 255 AND
256...

THE RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING. 

TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO FALL THIS EVENING WHICH HAS ALLOWED HUMIDITY
VALUES TO RISE ABOVE 50 PERCENT. WINDS HAVE ALSO DECREASED BUT WILL
REMAIN BREEZY THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THE EXTREME FIRE DANGER
THREAT HAS DIMINISHED THIS EVENING.

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 17, 4:05 AM CDTFire Weather WatchFSD24 hr
Mar 17, 3:03 PM CDTWind AdvisoryFSDAurora, Brule, Charles Mix, Douglas, Gregory, Jerauld29 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in South Dakota, 2012Every red flag warning in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.