Alert archive / Nebraska / Red Flag Warnings in 2026

Red Flag Warning 13, NWS North Platte, NE

March 17, 202619 counties in Nebraska

NWS North Platte, NE issued this red flag warning at Mar 17, 2026, 1:06 PM MDT for 19 counties in Nebraska. It took effect at Mar 18, 2026, 11:00 AM MDT. 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, 2026, 1:06 PM MDT (19:06 UTC)
In effect from: Mar 18, 2026, 11:00 AM MDT
Expired: Mar 18, 2026, 7:00 PM MDT
In force: 8 hr
Issued by: NWS North Platte, NE

Counties Arthur County, NE, Blaine County, NE, Brown County, NE, Chase County, NE, Cherry County, NE, Deuel County, NE, Frontier County, NE, Garden County, NE, Grant County, NE, Hayes County, NE, Hooker County, NE, Keith County, NE, Lincoln County, NE, Logan County, NE, McPherson County, NE, Perkins County, NE, Rock County, NE, Sheridan County, NE, Thomas County, NE

The radar

The North Platte radar (KLNX), 64 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:08 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The text

As transmitted.

847 
WWUS83 KLBF 171906
RFWLBF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service North Platte NE
206 PM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

NEZ204-206-210-180315-
/O.UPG.KLBF.FW.A.0007.260318T1700Z-260319T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KLBF.FW.W.0013.260318T1700Z-260319T0100Z/
/O.CON.KLBF.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-260318T0200Z/
Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR-
Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest-Frenchman Basin-
206 PM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026 /106 PM MDT Tue Mar 17 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/
THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
WESTERN AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA... 

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON CDT /11 AM MDT/ TO 8 PM 
CDT /7 PM MDT/ WEDNESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE 
HUMIDITY FOR WESTERN AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA...

The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a Red
Flag Warning for strong winds and low relative humidity, which is
in effect from noon CDT /11 AM MDT/ to 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ 
Wednesday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern 
  Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, Fire Weather Zone 206 
  Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest and Fire 
  Weather Zone 210 Frenchman Basin.

* TIMING...Red Flag Warning in effect through 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/
  this evening. For Wednesday the Red Flag Warning is in effect 
  from 12 PM CDT /11 AM MDT/ to 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT

* WINDS...Northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 17 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Up to 77.

* LIGHTNING...None expected either day.

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

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.

&&

$$

NEZ219-180315-
/O.NEW.KLBF.FW.W.0013.260318T1700Z-260319T0100Z/
/O.CON.KLBF.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-260318T0200Z/
Loess Plains-
206 PM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WEST CENTRAL
NEBRASKA...


...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM CDT 
WEDNESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WEST CENTRAL
NEBRASKA...

The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a Red
Flag Warning for strong winds and low relative humidity, which is
in effect from noon to 8 PM CDT Wednesday.

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

* TIMING...11 AM CDT to 9 PM CDT Tuesday

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 16 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Up to 79.

* LIGHTNING...None expected.

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

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.

&&

$$

NEZ209-180200-
/O.CON.KLBF.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-260318T0200Z/
Loup Rivers Basin-
206 PM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH
CENTRAL NEBRASKA...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 209 Loup Rivers Basin.

* TIMING...11 AM CDT to 9 PM CDT Tuesday

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 20 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Up to 66.

* LIGHTNING...None expected.

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

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.

&&

$$

4 follow-up statements

134 
WWUS83 KLBF 180300
RFWLBF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1000 PM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

NEZ204-206-210-219-181100-
/O.CON.KLBF.FW.W.0013.260318T1700Z-260319T0100Z/
Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR-
Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest-Frenchman Basin-
Loess Plains-
1000 PM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026 /900 PM MDT Tue Mar 17 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON CDT /11 AM MDT/
TO 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ WEDNESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WESTERN AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST
NEBRASKA...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern 
  Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, Fire Weather Zone 206 
  Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest, Fire Weather 
  Zone 210 Frenchman Basin and Fire Weather Zone 219 Loess 
  Plains.

* TIMING...Red Flag Warning in effect through 9 PM CDT /8 PM 
  MDT/ this evening. For Wednesday the Red Flag Warning is in 
  effect from 12 PM CDT /11 AM MDT/ to 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 17 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Up to 78.

* LIGHTNING...None expected either day.

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

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.

&&

$$

538 
WWUS83 KLBF 180837
RFWLBF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service North Platte NE
337 AM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026

NEZ204-206-210-219-182000-
/O.CON.KLBF.FW.W.0013.260318T1700Z-260319T0100Z/
Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR-
Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest-Frenchman Basin-
Loess Plains-
337 AM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026 /237 AM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON CDT /11 AM MDT/
TODAY TO 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL 
NEBRASKA...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern 
  Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, Fire Weather Zone 206 
  Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest, Fire Weather 
  Zone 210 Frenchman Basin and Fire Weather Zone 219 Loess 
  Plains.

* TIMING...Red Flag Warning in effect Wednesday 12 PM CDT /11 AM 
  MDT/ to 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Falling to around 12 to 20 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Upper 70s to lower 80s.

* LIGHTNING...None expected.

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

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.

&&

$$

191
WWUS83 KLBF 181908
RFWLBF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service North Platte NE
208 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026

NEZ204-190315-
/O.NEW.KLBF.FW.W.0014.260319T1700Z-260320T0100Z/
/O.CON.KLBF.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260319T0100Z/
Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR-
108 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
NEBRASKA...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MDT THURSDAY FOR
LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WINDS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEBRASKA...

The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a Red
Flag Warning for low relative humidity gusty winds, which is in
effect from 11 AM to 7 PM MDT Thursday.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern
Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR.

* TIMING...Red Flag Warning in effect through 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT.
Red Flag Warning in effect Thursday 12 PM CDT /11 AM MDT to 8
PM CDT /7 PM MDT.

* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph for
today. West winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph for
Thursday.

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

* TEMPERATURES...Up to 81.

* LIGHTNING...None expected.

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

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.

NEZ206-210-219-190100-
/O.CON.KLBF.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260319T0100Z/
Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest-Frenchman Basin-
Loess Plains-
208 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026 /108 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/
THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WEST
CENTRAL NEBRASKA...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 206 Sandhills/Valentine
NWR/Nebraska National Forest, Fire Weather Zone 210 Frenchman
Basin and Fire Weather Zone 219 Loess Plains.

* TIMING...Red Flag Warning in effect Wednesday 12 PM CDT /11 AM
MDT/ to 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 17 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Up to 80.

* LIGHTNING...None expected.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

854 
WWUS83 KLBF 190053
RFWLBF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service North Platte NE
753 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026

NEZ204-190900-
/O.EXP.KLBF.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260319T0100Z/
/O.CON.KLBF.FW.W.0014.260319T1700Z-260320T0100Z/
Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR-
653 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MDT
THURSDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FOR MUCH
OF WESTERN AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NEBRASKA...
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FOR MUCH OF WESTERN
AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NEBRASKA...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern 
  Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR.

* TIMING...Red Flag Warning in effect through 8 PM CDT /7 PM 
  MDT. Red Flag Warning in effect Thursday 12 PM CDT /11 AM MDT 
  to 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT.

* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

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

* TEMPERATURES...Up to 81.

* LIGHTNING...None expected.

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

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.

&&

$$

NEZ206-210-219-190200-
/O.EXP.KLBF.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260319T0100Z/
Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest-Frenchman Basin-
Loess Plains-
753 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026 /653 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ THIS
EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WEST
CENTRAL NEBRASKA...

Light winds and increasing humidity will allow for the Red Flag
Warning to expire.

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS North Platte, NE issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 17, 1:08 AM MDT	Fire Weather Watch	LBF	Arthur, Blaine, Brown, Chase, Cherry, Deuel and 12 more	12 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Nebraska, 2026 Every red flag warning in 2026

Sources

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