Red Flag Warning 22, NWS Dodge City, KS

Barber County, KS, Clark County, KS, Comanche County, KS, Edwards County, KS, Ellis County, KS, Finney County, KS, Ford County, KS, Grant County, KS, Gray County, KS, Hamilton County, KS, Haskell County, KS, Hodgeman County, KS, Kearny County, KS, Kiowa County, KS, Lane County, KS, Meade County, KS, Morton County, KS, Ness County, KS, Pawnee County, KS, Pratt County, KS, Rush County, KS, Scott County, KS, Seward County, KS, Stafford County, KS, Stanton County, KS, Stevens County, KS, Trego County, KS

727 
WWUS83 KDDC 160445
RFWDDC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
1145 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...Widespread Critical Fire Conditions Thursday...

KSZ030-031-043>046-061>065-074>080-084>089-161245-
/O.CON.KDDC.FW.W.0022.260416T1700Z-260417T0200Z/
Trego-Ellis-Scott-Lane-Ness-Rush-Hamilton-Kearny-Finney-Hodgeman-
Pawnee-Stanton-Grant-Haskell-Gray-Ford-Edwards-Kiowa-Morton-
Stevens-Seward-Meade-Clark-Comanche-
1145 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026 /1045 PM MDT Wed Apr 15 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON CDT /11 AM MDT/
TO 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ THURSDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHWEST KANSAS...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 030 Trego, Fire Weather Zone 
  031 Ellis, Fire Weather Zone 043 Scott, Fire Weather Zone 044 
  Lane, Fire Weather Zone 045 Ness, Fire Weather Zone 046 Rush, 
  Fire Weather Zone 061 Hamilton, Fire Weather Zone 062 Kearny, 
  Fire Weather Zone 063 Finney, Fire Weather Zone 064 Hodgeman, 
  Fire Weather Zone 065 Pawnee, Fire Weather Zone 074 Stanton, 
  Fire Weather Zone 075 Grant, Fire Weather Zone 076 Haskell, 
  Fire Weather Zone 077 Gray, Fire Weather Zone 078 Ford, Fire 
  Weather Zone 079 Edwards, Fire Weather Zone 080 Kiowa, Fire 
  Weather Zone 084 Morton, Fire Weather Zone 085 Stevens, Fire 
  Weather Zone 086 Seward, Fire Weather Zone 087 Meade, Fire 
  Weather Zone 088 Clark and Fire Weather Zone 089 Comanche.

* TIMING...From noon CDT /11 AM MDT/ to 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ 
  Thursday.

* WINDS...South 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 7 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

452 
WWUS83 KDDC 161200
RFWDDC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
700 AM CDT Thu Apr 16 2026

KSZ066-081-090-170200-
/O.EXA.KDDC.FW.W.0022.260416T1700Z-260417T0200Z/
Stafford-Pratt-Barber-
700 AM CDT Thu Apr 16 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM CDT THIS
EVENING 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 noon today to 9 PM CDT this evening.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 066 Stafford, Fire Weather 
  Zone 081 Pratt and Fire Weather Zone 090 Barber.

* TIMING...From noon today to 9 PM CDT this evening.

* WINDS...South 15 to 20 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.

&&

$$

KSZ030-031-043>046-061>065-074>080-084>089-170200-
/O.CON.KDDC.FW.W.0022.260416T1700Z-260417T0200Z/
Trego-Ellis-Scott-Lane-Ness-Rush-Hamilton-Kearny-Finney-Hodgeman-
Pawnee-Stanton-Grant-Haskell-Gray-Ford-Edwards-Kiowa-Morton-
Stevens-Seward-Meade-Clark-Comanche-
700 AM CDT Thu Apr 16 2026 /600 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON CDT /11 AM MDT/
TODAY TO 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 030 Trego, Fire Weather Zone 
  031 Ellis, Fire Weather Zone 043 Scott, Fire Weather Zone 044 
  Lane, Fire Weather Zone 045 Ness, Fire Weather Zone 046 Rush, 
  Fire Weather Zone 061 Hamilton, Fire Weather Zone 062 Kearny, 
  Fire Weather Zone 063 Finney, Fire Weather Zone 064 Hodgeman, 
  Fire Weather Zone 065 Pawnee, Fire Weather Zone 074 Stanton, 
  Fire Weather Zone 075 Grant, Fire Weather Zone 076 Haskell, 
  Fire Weather Zone 077 Gray, Fire Weather Zone 078 Ford, Fire 
  Weather Zone 079 Edwards, Fire Weather Zone 080 Kiowa, Fire 
  Weather Zone 084 Morton, Fire Weather Zone 085 Stevens, Fire 
  Weather Zone 086 Seward, Fire Weather Zone 087 Meade, Fire 
  Weather Zone 088 Clark and Fire Weather Zone 089 Comanche.

* TIMING...From noon CDT /11 AM MDT/ today to 9 PM CDT /8 PM 
  MDT/ this evening.

* WINDS...South 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 8 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

888 
WWUS83 KDDC 161611
RFWDDC

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
1111 AM CDT Thu Apr 16 2026

KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-170200-
/O.CON.KDDC.FW.W.0022.260416T1700Z-260417T0200Z/
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-
1111 AM CDT Thu Apr 16 2026 /1011 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 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 030 Trego, Fire Weather Zone 
  031 Ellis, Fire Weather Zone 043 Scott, Fire Weather Zone 044 
  Lane, Fire Weather Zone 045 Ness, Fire Weather Zone 046 Rush, 
  Fire Weather Zone 061 Hamilton, Fire Weather Zone 062 Kearny, 
  Fire Weather Zone 063 Finney, Fire Weather Zone 064 Hodgeman, 
  Fire Weather Zone 065 Pawnee, Fire Weather Zone 066 Stafford, 
  Fire Weather Zone 074 Stanton, Fire Weather Zone 075 Grant, 
  Fire Weather Zone 076 Haskell, Fire Weather Zone 077 Gray, 
  Fire Weather Zone 078 Ford, Fire Weather Zone 079 Edwards, 
  Fire Weather Zone 080 Kiowa, Fire Weather Zone 081 Pratt, Fire 
  Weather Zone 084 Morton, Fire Weather Zone 085 Stevens, Fire 
  Weather Zone 086 Seward, Fire Weather Zone 087 Meade, Fire 
  Weather Zone 088 Clark, Fire Weather Zone 089 Comanche and 
  Fire Weather Zone 090 Barber.

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

* WINDS...South 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 9 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
1234 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Increased fire weather risk Thursday to critical conditions,
  with critical fire weather conditions likely east to Highway
  183 corridor. Fire Weather Watch being upgraded to Red Flag
  Warning.

- Faster moving cold front that previously forecast Friday will
  reduce areal extent of Critical Fire Weather conditions, as
  well as reducing or perhaps even eliminating severe weather
  risk across our 27-county NWS Dodge City area entirely.

- Sub-freezing temperatures likely Saturday and/or Sunday
  morning as cold air mass drives south behind significant
  spring storm system.

- Continued serious fire weather risk into next week with very
  dry conditions.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1201 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

Today (Wednesday) will continue to be a rather quiet day in
between storm systems. In the wake of storm system #1, much
drier air will continue to move back in from the west and
southwest, especially as winds become southwesterly on Thursday.
The persistent southerly winds Thursday into Thursday night will
allow gulf moisture to advance north-northwestward ahead of the
much larger storm system #2, which by Friday morning will become
centered near the Utah-Colorado line. The difference with storm
#2 is the much colder air mass moving in from the north across
the High Plains, out ahead of the deep mid level trough. Given
the magnitude of colder air behind the front, a stronger than
normal density current will develop, allowing very intense
pressure rises behind the front, and the front will drive south
very quickly during the day. All models have been quicker with
the front with each successive run, which is a typical behavior
as models catch up to the magnitude of cold air mass involved as
well as strength of density current. Given that, we will also
need to watch for possible High Wind criteria being met in gusts
(58+ mph) for an hour or two in strongest initial MSLP rises
(upwards of +8 or more mb/3hr).

Numerous severe storms will develop along the cold front and in
vicinity of the cold front-dryline triple point, but given
faster cold front, initiation will most likely now be across our
far eastern counties Stafford-Pratt-Barber area, or perhaps even
east of there just east of our DDC CWA. The Latest SPC
Convective Outlook has shifted the gradient in probabilistic
outlooks east to account for the faster/stronger cold front push
in the afternoon Friday.

The strong cold front will lead to fairly robust temperature
drop late Friday Night into early Saturday, with lows Saturday
morning well down into the lower 30s much of southwest Kansas
with 28F or less generally west of roughly Liberal to Garden
City to WaKeeney. After initial collaboration with neighboring
NWS offices to the west and northwest, we have considered
issuing a Freeze Watch given the historically warm start to this
Spring season. Similar temperatures are also likely early Sunday
morning across the same general areas of far southwest and far
west central Kansas while winds remain light before
southwesterly winds pick back up again on Sunday.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1105 AM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

West-northwesterly winds will continue through the afternoon at
speeds generally less than 15 knots. By early evening, winds
will calm down to below 6 knots, remaining light through early
Thursday morning before ramping back up out of the south to
southwest in the 15 to 20 knot range. The dry air mass will lead
to continued widespread VFR flight category through Thursday.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1201 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

Widespread critical fire weather conditions are likely on
Thursday, and as confidence continues to increase, we will
upgraded the Fire Weather Watch to a Red Flag Warning and also
add in more counties -- east to a Hays to Coldwater line. Given
the faster moving cold front on Friday, widespread critical fire
weather conditions will be shunted farther south, and given
continued forecast uncertainty in cold front timing, we will
hold off on any fire weather headlines for Friday afternoon.
After a respite in fire weather concerns Saturday, we will see a
return to windy/dry conditions by Sunday with very low RH's
down to 8 to 15% for a few hours across all of southwest, west
central, and even south central Kansas.

&&

.DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning from noon CDT /11 AM MDT/ to 9 PM CDT /8 PM
MDT/ Thursday for KSZ030-031-043>046-061>065-074>080-084>089.

&&

DISCUSSION...Umscheid
AVIATION...Umscheid
FIRE WEATHER...Umscheid