Red Flag Warning 27, 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

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

022 
WWUS83 KLBF 230705
RFWLBF

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

NEZ204-206-208>210-219-240100-
/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-
205 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 /105 AM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM CDT /9 AM MDT/
THIS MORNING TO 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR LOW HUMIDITY
AND GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST 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...From 10AM CDT/9AM MDT to 8PM CDT/7PM MDT.

* WINDS...West to northwest at 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 
  mph.

* 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.

* 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

947 
WWUS83 KLBF 231952
RFWLBF

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


NEZ204-206-208>210-219-240100-
/O.CON.KLBF.FW.W.0027.000000T0000Z-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-
252 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 /152 PM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/
THIS EVENING FOR LOW HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST 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...Until 8PM CDT/7PM MDT.

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

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

* TEMPERATURES...Up to 72.

* LIGHTNING...none expected.

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

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.

&&

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
651 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Moderate to high confidence in severe thunderstorm potential late
  this afternoon and evening.

- Low to moderate confidence in light precipitation arriving
  Thursday evening across the Pine Ridge and spreading southeast
  throughout the night.

- Precipitation chances continue to look favorable Friday night
  through the weekend. Beneficial amounts continue to look more
  favorable.

- Wet snow is possible Sunday, mainly across far northwest
  Nebraska.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 346 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026

The main weather story in the short term will be the development of
showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. An upper level
trough and resulting frontal boundary will push through the region
will help to initiate thunderstorms as early as mid-afternoon across
the Panhandle and into the Sandhills. While low level moisture will
become limited across portions of this region early afternoon, there
is indication that a surge of higher dewpoints just ahead of the
front. This should provide enough moisture to get convection
developing. Still there is some concern on location of initiation
which may determine how much of north central Nebraska is affected.
At this time, there will be a ribbon of higher instability across
the eastern Panhandle where the greatest confidence is expected for
development. This is also the area where the surge of higher
moisture will be, adding to confidence in initiation in this area.
Storms will be mainly discrete supercells with the potential for
gusty winds being the main threat. With limited QPF from these
storms (a tenth or less) there is also a concern for some dry
lightning. This could be potentially problematic for fire concerns
especially in areas that have not received much moisture over the
last week or so and where green-up is slow to start this spring.
Instability will wane as the evening progresses with the best
potential for severe storms being between 01Z and 05Z. As storms
push east into the early Thursday morning hours and encounter a less
stable environment, they will diminish and outside of some few
lingering showers, the severe threat is not anticipated to prevail
much past 06Z.

Heading into Thursday, a return to drier conditions is expected
behind the departing front. Still, lingering lower level moisture
should keep the majority of Thursday under cloudy or mostly cloudy
skies. Some mild cold air advection from the north into the region
will also result in some cooler temperatures for Thursday. Expect
highs to range from the upper 60s in the Pine Ridge to the mid 70s
into portions of central Nebraska.

The next chance for light precipitation will occur when a weak
trough moves into western South Dakota and into northwest Nebraska
Thursday night. Current thinking is that precipitation will push
into northwest Nebraska and into the Pine Ridge by Thursday evening
starting as all rain. However, as temperatures fall to near and
below freezing overnight, rain will change over to a rain/snow mix
and even all snow in some of the higher terrain. Little to no
accumulations are expected, though. Precipitation will continue to
push southeast through sunrise Friday morning, with any precip
outside of the Pine Ridge region remaining as all liquid.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Issued at 346 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026

A deep upper level low pressure system will be centered across
southern Canada on Friday. An embedded shortwave will rotate around
the low across the northern/central Rockies during the day and
emerge into the Central Plains Friday night. Expecting at least
scattered shower development Friday afternoon into Friday night as
ascent increases. Steep mid-level lapse rates will aid in some weak
elevated CAPE, and could see an isolated thunderstorm or two along
with the shower activity Friday night.

The southern Canada upper low will weaken as it shifts
northeastward during the day Saturday. Meanwhile, an upper level
trough will moving onshore the west coast, with flow aloft becoming
southwest across our area. A warm front develops eastward across
Kansas from a deepening eastern Colorado surface through the day
Saturday. Moisture availability looks favorable Saturday night
through Sunday. Strong Gulf moisture advection will be underway
Saturday and Saturday night across the Southern Plains. The warm
front will nudge northward some into southern Nebraska during the
day Sunday. Moist southeast upslope flow will combine with strong mid-
level FGEN, and brings what looks to be a decent precipitation event
Saturday night though Sunday. ENS mean probabilities for at least one
half inch of QPF have continued to increase, with the latest 22/00Z
suite giving a 60-80% chance across the heart of the Sandhills into
central and north central Nebraska. Across western into southwest
Nebraska the chances diminish slightly but still look favorable
(above 50%). GEFS is similar, and in the same location, which leads
to a continued increase in confidence that a soaking rainfall looks
probable. As far as the wet snow potential, ensemble probabilities
are moderately high for 1-2" of wet snow accumulation, most likely
across far northwest Nebraska especially in and bear the Pine Ridge.

Monday into Tuesday of next week, the pattern appears to remain
unsettled. Near or below freezing temperatures are expected Monday
morning west of Highway 83. This will be the result of strong cold
air advection behind a cold front that dives southeast through the
area early Monday morning. At least a slight chance for showers
continues both Monday and Tuesday...as a couple of weak disturbances
follow in the wake of the Saturday night and Sunday system. Highs
will moderate by Tuesday after a chilly breezy/windy day Monday.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 648 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026

Mid- morning onward south winds increase to 20-35 kts. VFR
conditions will prevail area-wide through the day. There will be
an increase in mid and high-level clouds from late morning into
the afternoon. Isolated thunderstorms will be possible late
this afternoon into the evening hours, especially along and west
of Highway 83.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 346 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for all of western and north
central Nebraska today. Gusty south winds, up to 45 mph, will
combine with very warm temperatures in the upper 80s to near 90
degrees. Although Gulf moisture/humidity will be returning
northward into the area, initially, it will be shallow, and dew
points will mix out during the late morning through mid afternoon
before the deeper moisture arrives by evening. Lowest humidity
values will range from 10-15% across western Nebraska, up to
18-25% across central and into north central Nebraska. In
addition, the potential for dry lightning late this afternoon and
into this evening, mainly west of Highway 83 with any initial
isolated thunderstorm development. This threat should wane this
evening as higher humidity/dew points arrive on gusty south to
southeast winds. Also, very strong, possibly damaging wind gusts
will be possible near or in any thunderstorm late this afternoon
and evening.

A wind shift occurs overnight tonight 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 during the Thursday.
Likely will see critical conditions over most if not all of the
area on Thursday.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning from 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ this morning to 9
PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ this evening for NEZ204-206-208>210-219.

&&

SHORT TERM...Kulik
LONG TERM...Taylor
AVIATION...Taylor
FIRE WEATHER...Taylor

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1108 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-231615-
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-
1108 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026 /1008 AM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026/

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for all of western and north central
Nebraska today. Gusty south winds and low humidity can be expected.

Isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop
late this afternoon west of Highway 83. This initial development
could contain dry lightning, along with erratic, strong, possibly
damaging wind gusts. As humidity increases the dry lightning threat
should wane this evening. However, the chance for large hail and
damaging wind gusts will remain, and spread farther to the east
towards central Nebraska.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

A combination of low humidity and gusty west to northwest winds
Thursday, will likely bring near critical or critical fire weather
conditions once again.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.