Red Flag Warning 26, NWS North Platte, NE

Arthur County, NE, Blaine County, NE, Boyd County, NE, Brown County, NE, Chase County, NE, Cherry County, NE, Custer County, NE, Deuel County, NE, Frontier County, NE, Garden County, NE, Garfield County, NE, Grant County, NE, Hayes County, NE, Holt County, NE, Hooker County, NE, Keith County, NE, Keya Paha County, NE, Lincoln County, NE, Logan County, NE, Loup County, NE, McPherson County, NE, Perkins County, NE, Rock County, NE, Sheridan County, NE, Thomas County, NE, Wheeler County, NE

541 
WWUS83 KLBF 220741
RFWLBF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service North Platte NE
241 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026

NEZ204-206-208>210-219-230200-
/O.CON.KLBF.FW.W.0026.260422T1600Z-260423T0200Z/
Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR-
Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest-
Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie National
Forest-Loup Rivers Basin-Frenchman Basin-Loess Plains-
241 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026 /141 AM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/
THIS MORNING TO 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR LOW HUMIDITY
AND GUSTY SOUTH WINDS...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern 
  Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, Fire Weather Zone 206 
  Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest, Fire Weather 
  Zone 208 Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie 
  National Forest, Fire Weather Zone 209 Loup Rivers Basin, Fire 
  Weather Zone 210 Frenchman Basin and Fire Weather Zone 219 
  Loess Plains.

* TIMING...Late this morning into this evening.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 to 15% across western Nebraska
  and 18 to 25% across central and north central Nebraska. 

* TEMPERATURES...Highs in the upper 80s to near 90. 

* LIGHTNING...Dry lightning possible late this afternoon and 
  evening, especially west of Highway 83.

* IMPACTS...Any fire starts may rapidly grow and spread. Gusty, 
  erratic winds will be possible with thunderstorms.

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.

&&

$$

Taylor

540 
WWUS83 KLBF 221750
RFWLBF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1250 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026



NEZ204-206-208>210-219-231800-
/O.NEW.KLBF.FW.W.0027.260423T1500Z-260424T0100Z/
/O.CON.KLBF.FW.W.0026.000000T0000Z-260423T0200Z/
Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR-
Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest-
Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie National
Forest-Loup Rivers Basin-Frenchman Basin-Loess Plains-
1250 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026 /1150 AM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/
THIS EVENING FOR LOW HUMIDITY AND GUSTY SOUTH WINDS...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM CDT /9 AM MDT/ TO 8 PM
CDT /7 PM MDT/ THURSDAY FOR LOW HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WINDS FOR ALL
OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA...

The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a Red
Flag Warning for western and north central Nebraska, which is in 
effect from 10 AM CDT /9 AM MDT/ to 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ Thursday.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern 
  Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, Fire Weather Zone 206 
  Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest, Fire Weather 
  Zone 208 Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie 
  National Forest, Fire Weather Zone 209 Loup Rivers Basin, Fire 
  Weather Zone 210 Frenchman Basin and Fire Weather Zone 219 
  Loess Plains.

* TIMING...Today through 9pm CDT, Thursday from 10AM CDT/9AM MDT
  to 8PM CDT/7PM MDT. 

* WINDS...Southwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph for
  today. West to Northwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts of 45 mph or
  greater.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent today and Thursday 

* TEMPERATURES...Up to 88 today, up to 77 Thursday.

* LIGHTNING...Dry lightning possible late this afternoon and 
  evening, especially west of Highway 83.

* IMPACTS...Any fire starts may rapidly grow and spread. Gusty, 
  erratic winds will be possible with thunderstorms.

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.

&&

$$

691 
WWUS83 KLBF 230108
RFWLBF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service North Platte NE
808 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026


NEZ204-206-208>210-219-230915-
/O.EXT.KLBF.FW.W.0026.000000T0000Z-260423T0500Z/
/O.CON.KLBF.FW.W.0027.260423T1500Z-260424T0100Z/
Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR-
Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest-
Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie National
Forest-Loup Rivers Basin-Frenchman Basin-Loess Plains-
808 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026 /708 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT /11 PM MDT/
TONIGHT FOR LOW HUMIDITY AND GUSTY SOUTH WINDS...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM CDT /9 AM MDT/
TO 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ THURSDAY FOR LOW HUMIDITY AND GUSTY SOUTH
WINDS...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern 
  Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, Fire Weather Zone 206 
  Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest, Fire Weather 
  Zone 208 Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie 
  National Forest, Fire Weather Zone 209 Loup Rivers Basin, Fire 
  Weather Zone 210 Frenchman Basin and Fire Weather Zone 219 
  Loess Plains.

* TIMING...Today through 9pm CDT, Thursday from 10AM CDT/9AM MDT 
  to 8PM CDT/7PM MDT.

* WINDS...Southerly 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph through
  this evening. West to Northwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts of 45
  mph or greater on Thursday

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

* TEMPERATURES...Into the mid 70s on Thursday.

* LIGHTNING...Dry lightning possible through this evening,
  especially west of US-83.

* IMPACTS...Any fire starts may rapidly grow and spread. Gusty, 
  erratic winds will be possible with thunderstorms.

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.

&&

$$

379 
WWUS83 KLBF 230509
RFWLBF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1209 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

NEZ204-206-208>210-219-231315-
/O.EXP.KLBF.FW.W.0026.000000T0000Z-260423T0500Z/
/O.CON.KLBF.FW.W.0027.260423T1500Z-260424T0100Z/
Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR-
Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest-
Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie National
Forest-Loup Rivers Basin-Frenchman Basin-Loess Plains-
1209 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 /1109 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM CDT /9 AM MDT/
TO 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ THURSDAY FOR LOW HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WEST TO
NORTHWEST WINDS...

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT MIDNIGHT CDT /11 PM MDT/ 
TONIGHT... 

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern 
  Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, Fire Weather Zone 206 
  Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest, Fire Weather 
  Zone 208 Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie 
  National Forest, Fire Weather Zone 209 Loup Rivers Basin, Fire 
  Weather Zone 210 Frenchman Basin and Fire Weather Zone 219 
  Loess Plains.

* TIMING...Red Flag Warning will expire for tonight at 12 AM CDT/
  11 PM MDT. The Red Flag Warning remains in effect for Thursday
  from 10AM CDT/9AM MDT to 8PM CDT/7PM MDT.

* WINDS...West to northwest will develop overnight tonight and
  increase 20 to 35 mph with gusts of 45 mph or greater by mid-
  morning today (Thursday).  

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 to 15 east of Highway 83 and
  south of I-80. Across northwest Nebraska humidity as low as 15 
  to 25%.
 
* TEMPERATURES...High temperatures in the lower to mid 70s across
  southwest, central and north central Nebraska. Highs in the 
  lower 60s across northwest Nebraska. 

* LIGHTNING...none expected during the day today (Thursday). 

* IMPACTS...Any fire starts may rapidly grow and spread. Gusty, 
  erratic winds will be possible with thunderstorms.

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.

&&

$$

Taylor

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1225 PM CDT Tue Apr 21 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A combination of warm and very dry conditions will lead to
 elevated to near critical fire weather concerns today.

- Scattered thunderstorms are possible along a dryline
  positioned across western Nebraska on Wednesday afternoon and
  evening. A few storms could be strong to severe. West of the
  dryline, critical fire weather conditions are possible.

- Fire weather concerns Thursday and potentially Friday as well.

- Continues to look like this weekend we'll receive some decent
  precipitation amounts. Wet snow will be possible across mainly
  northwest Nebraska.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 412 AM CDT Tue Apr 21 2026

Currently, temperatures range from the upper 40s in northwest
Nebraska to the upper 60s in central Nebraska under partly to mostly
clear skies. Winds are light and variable, with weak surface high
pressure positioned across western Nebraska.

For today, expect another very warm and dry day across western and
north central Nebraska. Anomalously warm air remains in place aloft,
with H85 temperatures exceeding the 90th percentile climo. Despite
much weaker winds today, more than adequate deep layer mixing is
still expected and highs are expected to climb into the upper 80s to
lower 90s. Very dry air remains in place, and dewpoints will again
fall into the single digits to teens for all this afternoon. Despite
this, southerly winds 10 to 20 miles per hour look to preclude any
fire weather headlines for now.

Attention then turns to a much more active day across the area
Wednesday. Aloft, a deep upper low will begin to move east across
the Intermountain West, reaching western South Dakota by early
Thursday morning. At the surface, deep lee cyclogenesis begins
across eastern Wyoming/northeastern Colorado by Wednesday afternoon.
As this occurs, southerly flow will quickly strengthen across all of
western and north central Nebraska. This will lead to at least
modest moisture advection into the area, with dewpoints climbing
into the middle to upper 40s by Wednesday morning. By the afternoon,
a dryline will be positioned somewhere near the HWY 61 corridor.
Near and behind the dryline, critical fire weather conditions look
to be a near certainty, with very warm and dry conditions
overlapping strong southwest winds. Further east, uncertainty
increases with respect to the degree of mixing Wednesday afternoon.
Recent high-res guidance has come into better agreement with much
deeper mixing ahead of the dryline, and this would increase fire
concerns markedly across much of the area. The biggest question mark
to this revolves around surface winds gradually backing to the
southeast with time as the surface low deepens, and this could limit
the mixing somewhat. That said, with the antecedent dry soil
conditions and the moisture not being overly deep, confidence is
slowly growing in a much deeper mixed warm sector Wednesday. With
this in mind, have issued a Fire Weather Watch for much of western
and northern Nebraska in collaboration with neighboring offices.
Opted to not include central and south central Nebraska for now,
though further expansions may be needed should confidence in the
moisture being mixed out further east grow.

Should the deeper mixing scenario occur, concern would grow in high
based convection off the dryline by late afternoon. Though
instability remains somewhat meager in this scenario, any lingering
inhibition looks to be eroded by late afternoon. With a very deep
dryline circulation in place, at least scattered thunderstorm
initiation would be possible. A glance at the high-res guidance that
does show the deeper mixing shows a threat for damaging winds in any
thunderstorms, with very deep inverted-v thermodynamic profiles ahead
of the dryline. Some threat for dry lightning would be possible as
well, and further supports the issuance of a Fire Weather Watch. A
less confident, though still plausible scenario would revolve around
lesser deep mixing ahead of the dryline. This would keep dewpoints
in the upper 40s to low 50s through late afternoon, and could
support a threat for supercells off the dryline given the magnitude
of deep layer shear. Though low confidence, this would be a higher
impact scenario that could lead to a threat for both large hail and
damaging winds.

By late evening, a strengthening low level jet will help to increase
dewpoints well into the lower to middle 50s after sunset. As a
strong surface low ejects east across North Dakota after dark, the
dryline/cold front will surge east across the area. This may bring a
renewed round of convection along the surging front, and this round
would have much greater, albeit largely elevated, instability to
work with. The threat for strong to severe storms may linger into
the early overnight hours, before the front clears off to the east
prior to sunrise.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Issued at 412 AM CDT Tue Apr 21 2026

A deep surface low (986mb per ECMWF) will quickly track through the
Dakotas and into southern Canada Thursday. A return to gusty
west/northwest winds and low humidity can be expected as a cold
front/dry line cross the area. Areas west of Highway 183 will likely
see near-critical to critical fire weather conditions develop. Some
models are a bit slower with the progression of the front, and keep
humidity higher across central Nebraska and eastern portions of
north central Nebraska.

Friday will see a cool down, but still appears that fire weather
concerns will be at least elevated as gusty northwest winds and low
humidity continue.

A change in the weather still looks to occur this weekend. An upper
level trough will move eastward across the Rockies. A warm front
develops eastward across Kansas from a deepening eastern Colorado
surface low. Appears to be plenty of moisture available, with strong
Gulf moisture advection. Moist upslope flow brings what looks to be
the most promising chance for a decent precipitation event in quite
some time. ENS probabilities for at least one half inch of liquid
precipitation have increased to greater than 50% for the entire
area. In fact, east of Highway 83 they are on the order of 60-70%.
GEFS is similar leading to increasing confidence of a potential
soaking rain. Still could be some wet snow, especially across the
northwest half of the area (Valentine to Ogallala and points
northwest). Ensemble probabilities are moderately high for 1-3" of
wet snow accumulation. Details will continue to be sorted out as we
get closer to the weekend.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1225 PM CDT Tue Apr 21 2026

VFR conditions are expected to prevail across western and north
central Nebraska today and tonight. Winds remain mostly light out of
the southeast through southwest this afternoon, with gusts up to 20
knots across the northern Sandhills. By evening, expecting light
winds across the region. Overnight, a strengthening low level jet
develops, bringing LLWS concerns across most of western and north
central Nebraska. By the morning, better mixing develops, causing
gusty southerly winds across the region. Expecting mostly clear
skies throughout the TAF period, with a few high clouds later today.
By tomorrow morning, expecting more cloud cover tracking into the
region, with no impacts to ceilings or visibility expected through
the afternoon. Beyond this TAF period, increasing chances for
showers and thunderstorms may bring localized impacts.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 412 AM CDT Tue Apr 21 2026

Wednesday, gusty south winds, up to 45 mph, will combine with
very warn temperatures (approaching 90 degrees). Although Gulf
moisture/humidity will be returning northward into the area,
initially it will be shallow and dew points will likely mix out
during the late morning through mid afternoon before the deeper
moisture arrives by late afternoon and evening. Therefore, a
Fire Weather Watch has been issued for all but Fire Weather Zone
209 and 219 where humidity may stay a little higher. Also of
concern will be the potential for dry lightning, mainly west of
Highway 83 with any isolated thunderstorm development late in
the afternoon. This threat appears to be brief, with higher
humidity increasing during the evening.

A wind shift occurs Wednesday night as a cold front/dry line
quickly moves eastward across the area. Winds shift to the west-
northwest as this passes. This sets the stage for more low
humidity and gusty west-northwest winds Thursday. Likely will see
critical conditions over most if not all of the area.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday
evening for NEZ204-206-208-210.

&&

SHORT TERM...Brown
LONG TERM...Taylor
AVIATION...Richie
FIRE WEATHER...Taylor

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1035 AM CDT Tue Apr 21 2026

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-221545-
Sheridan-Eastern Cherry-Keya Paha-Boyd-Brown-Rock-Holt-Garden-Grant-
Hooker-Thomas-Blaine-Loup-Garfield-Wheeler-Arthur-McPherson-Logan-
Custer-Deuel-Keith-Perkins-Lincoln-Chase-Hayes-Frontier-
Western Cherry-
1035 AM CDT Tue Apr 21 2026 /935 AM MDT Tue Apr 21 2026/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western and north
central Nebraska.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

There is a low probability for widespread hazardous weather.

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

Isolated thunderstorms could develop near a dry line across western
Nebraska late Wednesday afternoon. A severe thunderstorm or two will
be possible, though the severe details are still somewhat uncertain.
Additionally, thunderstorms will bring a threat for dry lightning.

A combination of low humidity and gusty winds on both Wednesday and
Thursday may bring a return of near critical or critical fire
weather conditions both days.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.