Red Flag Warning 16, NWS Dodge City, KS

376 
WWUS83 KDDC 021646
RFWDDC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
1146 AM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026



KSZ061-062-074-075-084-085-030200-
/O.CON.KDDC.FW.W.0016.260402T1700Z-260403T0200Z/
Hamilton-Kearny-Stanton-Grant-Morton-Stevens-
1146 AM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026 /1046 AM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/
THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 061 Hamilton, Fire Weather 
  Zone 062 Kearny, Fire Weather Zone 074 Stanton, Fire Weather 
  Zone 075 Grant, Fire Weather Zone 084 Morton and Fire Weather 
  Zone 085 Stevens.

* TIMING...Until 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ this evening.

* WINDS...South 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 11 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread 
  quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

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.

&&

$$

For more information from NOAA/National weather service visit...
http://weather.gov/ddc

101 
WWUS83 KDDC 021900
RFWDDC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
200 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

...Elevated to Critical Wildfire Risk Thursday and Friday
Afternoons...
...South Winds Thursday, Northwest Winds Friday...

KSZ061-062-074-075-084-085-031200-
/O.NEW.KDDC.FW.W.0017.260403T1800Z-260404T0000Z/
/O.CON.KDDC.FW.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260403T0200Z/
Hamilton-Kearny-Stanton-Grant-Morton-Stevens-
200 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026 /100 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/
THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT /NOON MDT/ TO 7 PM
CDT /6 PM MDT/ FRIDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a Red Flag
Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect
from 1 PM CDT /noon MDT/ to 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ Friday.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 061 Hamilton, Fire Weather 
  Zone 062 Kearny, Fire Weather Zone 074 Stanton, Fire Weather 
  Zone 075 Grant, Fire Weather Zone 084 Morton and Fire Weather 
  Zone 085 Stevens.

* TIMING...For the first Red Flag Warning, until 9 PM CDT /8 PM 
  MDT/ this evening. For the second Red Flag Warning, from 1 PM 
  CDT /noon MDT/ to 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ Friday.

* WINDS... Thursday: South 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph.
  Friday: Northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any ignitions will have the potential of growing into
  wildfires quickly, given dry air, strong winds, and very dry
  fuels. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. 

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.

&&

$$

KSZ043-044-063-076-077-086-087-031200-
/O.NEW.KDDC.FW.W.0017.260403T1800Z-260404T0000Z/
Scott-Lane-Finney-Haskell-Gray-Seward-Meade-
200 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM CDT FRIDAY FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a Red Flag
Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect
from 1 PM to 7 PM CDT Friday.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 043 Scott, Fire Weather Zone 
  044 Lane, Fire Weather Zone 063 Finney, Fire Weather Zone 076 
  Haskell, Fire Weather Zone 077 Gray, Fire Weather Zone 086 
  Seward and Fire Weather Zone 087 Meade.

* TIMING...From 1 PM to 7 PM CDT Friday.

* WINDS...Northwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 13 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any ignitions will have the potential of growing into
  wildfires quickly, given dry air, strong winds, and very dry
  fuels. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. 

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.

&&

$$

Turner

For more information from NOAA/National weather service visit...
http://weather.gov/ddc

144 
WWUS83 KDDC 030131
RFWDDC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
831 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

KSZ061-062-074-075-084-085-031200-
/O.EXP.KDDC.FW.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260403T0200Z/
/O.CON.KDDC.FW.W.0017.260403T1800Z-260404T0000Z/
Hamilton-Kearny-Stanton-Grant-Morton-Stevens-
831 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026 /731 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT /NOON MDT/ TO
7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ FRIDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... 
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ THIS 
EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 061 Hamilton, Fire Weather 
  Zone 062 Kearny, Fire Weather Zone 074 Stanton, Fire Weather 
  Zone 075 Grant, Fire Weather Zone 084 Morton and Fire Weather 
  Zone 085 Stevens.

* TIMING...From 1 PM CDT /noon MDT/ to 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ 
  Friday.

* WINDS...Northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 11 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread 
  quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

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.

&&

$$

KSZ043-044-063-076-077-086-087-031200-
/O.CON.KDDC.FW.W.0017.260403T1800Z-260404T0000Z/
Scott-Lane-Finney-Haskell-Gray-Seward-Meade-
831 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM CDT
FRIDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 043 Scott, Fire Weather Zone 
  044 Lane, Fire Weather Zone 063 Finney, Fire Weather Zone 076 
  Haskell, Fire Weather Zone 077 Gray, Fire Weather Zone 086 
  Seward and Fire Weather Zone 087 Meade.

* TIMING...From 1 PM to 7 PM CDT Friday.

* WINDS...Northwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 13 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread 
  quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

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.

&&

$$

For more information from NOAA/National weather service visit...
http://weather.gov/ddc

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
528 PM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Cloudy Wednesday with seasonable temperatures.

- Scattered showers and thunderstorms along and east of US 283
  Wednesday evening. Severe hail/wind potential highest east of
  a Coldwater-Stafford line.

- Sunny and dry, pleasant spring day Thursday.

- Cold front brings strong north winds Friday. Severe
  thunderstorms expected to remain southeast of Barber County
  Friday evening.

- Dry and quiet Easter weekend, with light freezes expected
  Saturday and Sunday mornings.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1200 PM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

Strong progressive shortwave was near the Four Corners at
midday, and will progress quickly eastward into SW KS this
evening. Infrared satellite shows an impressive widespread
mid/high overcast ahead of this feature, with radar trending
upward with virga/sprinkles. Winds will trend southeast this
afternoon and increase some, allowing for moisture advection
and dewpoints climbing through the 40s. In conjunction with
forcing for ascent improving through time, scattered showers
will become progressively more likely late this afternoon and
this evening. Strongest lift and forcing will arrive about
7 pm, when showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop
quickly along and east of US 283. All activity will be forced
to move eastward quickly, which will keep rainfall amounts
limited. Areas west of US 283 will receive little if any rain.
12z NAM does increase MUCAPE/elevated instability to near
500 J/kg this evening, so embedded thunder is likely. Much
more significant instability/shear parameters will be place
across NW Oklahoma, where numerous thunderstorms will develop
this evening. Some of this activity is expected to clip at least
Barber county and surrounding areas, where large hail/damaging
wind is most probable this evening. All/any thunderstorms are
expected to clear the DDC CWA no later than 2 am Thursday.
Models show very rapid clearing overnight as subsidence behind
the shortwave arrives.

Full sunshine returns Thursday, allowing for warmer temperatures
in the 70s. Light northwest winds early, behind the departing
system, will be forced to become south/southeast rapidly
Thursday afternoon, in response to strong lee cyclogenesis in
eastern Colorado. Strongest winds are expected west of US 83
Thursday afternoon.

Strong 544 dm midlevel cyclone over Idaho 7 pm Thursday is
consistently forecasted by all models to be over South Dakota
7 pm Friday. This cyclone track is unusually far north for early
April, and this synoptic evolution will dryslot SW KS.
Associated cold front will arrive northern zones Friday morning,
and easily clear the Oklahoma border early Friday evening,
followed by strong north winds. 12z MET/MOS guidance are both
trending upwards on these north winds, at 20-30 mph sustained
with gusts near 40 mph. NBM is too weak with these winds, and
will be increased by future shifts. Cold advection behind the
cold front appears gradual, and sunshine/NWly downslope will
offset some of it, so still expecting 60s north and 70s south
Friday afternoon.

Easter weekend will be dry and pleasant, with temperatures not
too far from normal for early April. Expecting 60s Saturday and
70s Sunday with few if any clouds, and relatively tame winds,
for a pleasant spring weekend. Northwest winds will be still
breezy at 15-25 mph Saturday, trending to modest south winds
Easter afternoon. Light winds and dry air over very dry topsoils
will promote strong radiational cooling at night, with
widespread light freezes expected both Saturday and Sunday
mornings. Fortunately, the incoming air mass will not be
particularly cold, as such freeze damage to early vegetation
should be limited.

High confidence Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be dry. To
various degrees models show a longwave trough returning to the
Rockies late next week, which will reestablish the dryline, with
improving chances for showers and thunderstorms during the
April 9-10th time frame.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 528 PM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

VFR conditions are forecast for all sites through the TAF period.
Some lingering showers will remain scattered across the CWA with no
expected impact to flight conditions with cloud cover much higher
than criteria. Evening thunderstorms are currently forecast to
remain well east of all sites. Some LLWS may be present around 5Z,
but confidence is too low to include in the TAFs. Skies will clear
around halfway through the period as winds lighten and shift from
the south, to from the northwest, and ending out of the south
again.

&&

.DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Fire Weather Watch from Thursday afternoon through Thursday
evening for KSZ061-062-074-075-084-085.

&&

DISCUSSION...Turner
AVIATION...KBJ

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
1202 AM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-020515-
Trego-Ellis-Scott-Lane-Ness-Rush-Hamilton-Kearny-Finney-Hodgeman-
Pawnee-Stafford-Stanton-Grant-Haskell-Gray-Ford-Edwards-Kiowa-
Pratt-Morton-Stevens-Seward-Meade-Clark-Comanche-Barber-
1202 AM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026 /1102 PM MDT Tue Mar 31 2026/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Kansas,
south central Kansas, southwest Kansas, and west central Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Thunderstorms will be possible across the far eastern zones. Low
end severe cannot be ruled out, however, it appears the brunt of
the severe activity will remain east and southeast of the forecast
area.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

A fire weather watch is in effect Thursday. See message for details.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed.