Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

Buena Vista County, IA, Cherokee County, IA, Clay County, IA, Dickinson County, IA, Ida County, IA, Lyon County, IA, O'Brien County, IA, Osceola County, IA, Plymouth County, IA, Sioux County, IA, Woodbury County, IA, Jackson County, MN, Nobles County, MN, Rock County, MN, Dakota County, NE, Dixon County, NE, Aurora County, SD, Bon Homme County, SD, Brule County, SD, Charles Mix County, SD, Clay County, SD, Davison County, SD, Douglas County, SD, Gregory County, SD, Hanson County, SD, Hutchinson County, SD, Lincoln County, SD, McCook County, SD, Minnehaha County, SD, Turner County, SD, Union County, SD, Yankton County, SD

847 
WWUS83 KFSD 180847
RFWFSD

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
247 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ089-090-098-NEZ013-014-
SDZ050-057>071-181830-
/O.CON.KFSD.FW.W.0002.260218T1600Z-260219T0000Z/
Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee-
Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Nobles-Jackson-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Gregory-
Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook-Minnehaha-Charles Mix-Douglas-
Hutchinson-Turner-Lincoln-Bon Homme-Yankton-Union-
247 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 
6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR AREAS
ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE-90...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Iowa, Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Sioux, 
  O'Brien, Clay, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Woodbury and 
  Ida. In Minnesota, Nobles, Jackson and Rock. In Nebraska, 
  Dixon and Dakota. In South Dakota, Gregory, Brule, Aurora, 
  Davison, Hanson, McCook, Minnehaha, Charles Mix, Douglas, 
  Hutchinson, Turner, Lincoln, Bon Homme, Yankton, Clay and 
  Union.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread 
  very 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.

&&

$$

262 
WWUS83 KFSD 181808
RFWFSD

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
1208 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ089-090-098-NEZ013-014-
SDZ050-057>071-190000-
/O.CON.KFSD.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260219T0000Z/
Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee-
Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Nobles-Jackson-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Gregory-
Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook-Minnehaha-Charles Mix-Douglas-
Hutchinson-Turner-Lincoln-Bon Homme-Yankton-Union-
1208 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR AREAS ALONG AND SOUTH OF
INTERSTATE-90...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Iowa, Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Sioux, 
  O'Brien, Clay, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Woodbury and 
  Ida. In Minnesota, Nobles, Jackson and Rock. In Nebraska, 
  Dixon and Dakota. In South Dakota, Gregory, Brule, Aurora, 
  Davison, Hanson, McCook, Minnehaha, Charles Mix, Douglas, 
  Hutchinson, Turner, Lincoln, Bon Homme, Yankton, Clay and 
  Union.

* WINDS...West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 20 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.

&&

$$

676 
WWUS83 KFSD 182355
RFWFSD

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
555 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ089-090-098-NEZ013-014-
SDZ050-057>071-190100-
/O.EXP.KFSD.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260219T0000Z/
Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee-
Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Nobles-Jackson-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Gregory-
Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook-Minnehaha-Charles Mix-Douglas-
Hutchinson-Turner-Lincoln-Bon Homme-Yankton-Union-
555 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR WIND
AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR AREAS ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE-90...

Temperatures have begun to cool, increasing humidity values above
critical thresholds. Although breezy winds will persist into the 
evening hours, the increasing humidity is putting an end to any 
fire danger across the area. Thus, the Red Flag Warning is allow
to expire.

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
550 PM CST Tue Feb 17 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms can't be ruled out
  this evening, especially east of I-29. 60 mph wind gusts will
  be the threat, though widespread strong to severe storms are
  not expected.

- Winds increase tonight into tomorrow morning, gusting up to 50
  mph at times especially north of I-90 and into portions of
  northwest Iowa. This will also lead to fire weather concerns
  especially along and south of I-90 where relative humidity
  values will be lowest.

- The potential for light accumulating snow returns Thursday
  into Thursday night. The best chance for at least an inch of
  snow (40-60%) is south of I-90 at this time. A narrow band of
  2-4+" inches may set up over parts of our area, though
  uncertainty in the placement of this heavier band remains
  high.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 240 PM CST Tue Feb 17 2026

One last very warm February day out there, with temperatures having
climbed mainly into the 60s. It's been a breezy day too, and
these winds will diminish this evening, at least for a few
hours. A cold front will be moving through the area this evening
as well and will help provide some lift for showers to develop.
These showers will actually some elevated instability to work
with, and thus a few thunderstorms cannot be ruled out. Can't
entirely rule out an isolated severe storm as there will be
ample dry air beneath these elevated storms. This would mean
gusts potentially as high as 60 mph, but widespread strong to
severe storms are not expected. Synoptic winds will increase
through tonight as strong cold air advection pushes into the
area behind the cold front, with gusts up to 50 mph expected.
This will be the case especially for areas north of I-90 where
the Wind Advisory has been expanded to include the rest of
southwest Minnesota north of I-90. These stronger winds will
spread into northwest Iowa heading into tomorrow morning, but
the current thinking is the chances for these stronger wind
gusts in excess of 45 mph will only last an hour or two, so did
not expand the advisory at this time and will be captured by the
Fire Weather Watch. More on that in the fire weather discussion
later on.

Some wrap-around precipitation may impact mainly the Highway-14
corridor late tonight into tomorrow morning. This will likely start
as light to very rain, turn to light to very light snow, and then
back to rain before exiting. Not expecting any snow with this to
accumulate, but there could be very brief reductions in
visibility in any light snow due to the stronger winds that
will be in place during the morning commute tomorrow.
Temperatures turn cooler heading into the day tomorrow behind
the aforementioned cold front, with highs mainly in the 40s and
50s. Of course, this is still above normal, but it only gets
colder from here.

Heading into Wednesday night and Thursday, a surface low will move
across the central Plains, with most guidance then pulling the
system northeastward to the Great Lakes by Thursday night/Friday.
17.12z guidance has continued to show the southerly trend of the low
through the central Plains as shown in the 17.06z guidance, and this
has lead to the latest NBM pulling the 2+ inch snow amounts farther
south and east closer to a Sioux City, IA to Jackson, MN line.
Looking at the 17.12z ensembles, there appears to be less of a
noticeable southerly trend as some of the deterministic models, so
it's entirely possible the next suite of deterministic guidance
starts to pull the snow farther north again. All that to say, still
a lot of uncertainty in exact amounts, but even with light snow,
reductions in visibility will be possible due to breezy conditions.
As of now and based on the current forecasted track of the system,
most spots south of I-90 look to see a moderate (40-60%) chance of
snow of at least one inch of snow. There may be a narrow stripe of 2-
4+" of snow depending on where the heaviest band of snow moves
through. This would be favoring areas closer to the Highway-20
corridor at this time, but again uncertainty remains high on where
this band sets up, so be sure to keep up to date with the latest
forecast. Chances of greater than 4 inches of snow remains low
(<20%), but can't be completely ruled out.

For timing, look for some light snow to start to move into the
Missouri River Valley by Thursday morning, with snow chances
gradually lifting northeastward through the afternoon and evening.
Snow should exit from northwest Iowa and adjacent southwest
Minnesota Thursday night. Not much time to look into the long-range
forecast, but temperatures do look to be colder heading into the
weekend. Highs return mainly to the 20s and 30s with lows down in to
single digits, though temperatures could trend colder or warmer
depending on how much snow falls.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 540 PM CST Tue Feb 17 2026

Mainly VFR conditions will continue this TAF period. Taking a
look across the area, we're starting to see stratus fill in with
pockets of showers and thundershowers move into the Missouri
River Valley this evening. As this developing activity lifts
northeastwards, could see a few -SHRA at all of our TAF sites.
Otherwise, breezier conditions will continue for the majority of
our TAF period with gusts between 40-50 mph expected. Lastly,
could see some patchy LLWS tonight mainly south of I-90.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 240 PM CST Tue Feb 17 2026

Winds will be stronger heading into the day on Wednesday, gusting in
excess of 40 mph at times especially during the morning hours and
especially north of Highway-18. Relative humidity values will be
dropping to critical levels in the afternoon, especially along and
south of I-90. So even though winds will be slowly diminishing
through the afternoon hours, there is enough overlap especially
along and south of I-90 to warrant issuing a Fire Weather Watch 11
am to 6 pm tomorrow. Wind direction should primarily be out of the
west through the day tomorrow. Fire weather conditions will diminish
on Thursday and through the weekend as snow chances and colder
temperatures make a return.

&&

.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday morning through Wednesday
     afternoon for SDZ050-057>071.
     Wind Advisory from midnight tonight to noon CST Wednesday for
     SDZ038>040-052>061.
MN...Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday morning through Wednesday
     afternoon for MNZ089-090-098.
     Wind Advisory from midnight tonight to noon CST Wednesday for
     MNZ071-072-080-081-097.
IA...Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday morning through Wednesday
     afternoon for IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032.
NE...Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday morning through Wednesday
     afternoon for NEZ013-014.

&&

DISCUSSION...Samet
AVIATION...05
FIRE WEATHER...Samet

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
338 AM CST Tue Feb 17 2026

IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-
098-NEZ013-014-SDZ038>040-050-052>071-180945-
Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee-
Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Lincoln-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson-
Pipestone-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Beadle-Kingsbury-Brookings-Gregory-
Jerauld-Sanborn-Miner-Lake-Moody-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook-
Minnehaha-Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Turner-Bon Homme-Yankton-
Union-
338 AM CST Tue Feb 17 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, west central
Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska, central South
Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central South Dakota and
southeast South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Increasing southeast winds will result in elevated fire danger
today.

Scattered showers and even a few thunderstorms will move east to
northeast across the area this evening. Severe weather is not
expected; however, the high-based showers and storms may produce
isolated wind gusts up to 50 MPH.

Westerly winds gusting 35 to 45 MPH will become more prevalent after
midnight tonight, strongest along and north of Interstate 90.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

West winds gusting 30 to 45 MPH will continue Wednesday morning,
diminishing through the afternoon. The gusty winds and very dry air
will result in elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions.

Wintry travel conditions return late in the work week with increasing
snow chances Thursday and Thursday night. While exact amounts are
uncertain, there is a moderate (50 to 70 percent) probability of
totals exceeding 2 inches over most of the area. Breezy north winds
may also produce areas of blowing snow. Those with late week travel
plans will want to monitor the forecast for the latest updates.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.