Strong mid-upper level trough ejected into the Plains early on February 17 which led to a rapid deepening of a surface cyclone. Strong winds developed behind the cold frontal passage, leading to numerous high wind reports across central and western Kansas.
Every event with a place to put it; 35 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS DDC wrote it up.
Strong mid-upper level trough ejected into the Plains early on February 17 which led to a rapid deepening of a surface cyclone. Strong winds developed behind the cold frontal passage, leading to numerous high wind reports across central and western Kansas. Large wildfires spread quickly as a result of the strong winds.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Dodge City, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 17, 10:55 AM CST, 0 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 1055 AM CST Tue Feb 17 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Dangerous wildfire conditions Tuesday afternoon with intense southwest to west winds and unseasonably warm temperatures. Damaging wind gusts and blowing dust are expected, especially west of US 283. - Temperatures will show a gradual cooling trend for the remainder of the week, ending up back close to February normals. - Some light snow is possible Friday night, but confidence is very low regarding coverage and amounts. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1111 PM CST Mon Feb 16 2026 A strong 40-50 kt LLJ will continue through the overnight hours. This will lead to S/SW sfc winds continuing through the morning as well. This will result in incredibly mild lows tonight with values ranging from the upper 40s in the north to the lower 50s in the south. This is well above normal with the typical values running in the 20s for this time of the year. Attention then turns to Tuesday. A strong 150-160 kt 250 hPa jet will swing out across the Great Plains. This will result in rapid cyclogenesis with a sfc low deepening across the greater region. The combination of the strong sfc low and mixing will result in very strong winds tomorrow. S to SW winds will blow 30 to 40 mph with gusts over 50 mph. Gusts in the 60s will be likely across a good portion of the FA. For more information on winds, please refer to the High Wind Warning that is in effect. Blowing dust and lower visibility will also be possible tomorrow. The combination of the strong winds, well above normal highs, and low relative humidity will result in Red Flag conditions Tuesday. Do not burn as any fire could become quickly out of control. Please see the Red Flag Warning that is in effect for more information on the fire danger for tomorrow. For Wednesday, it will still be warm (although not as warm as Tuesday). Highs should range from the upper 60s in the north to the lower 70s in the south. Winds will not be as strong Wednesday but still remain on the breezy side. This will result in another day of high fire danger. The lowest relative humidity is expected across the southwest/west zones. See the fire weather headline that is currently in effect for more information on the fire danger for Wednesday. A strong cold front will move across the FA Thursday. This will result with highs in the upper 40s in the north to the 50s in the south. Right now the models and their ensemble counterparts are trending drier with the fropa. The main impact will be temperatures as well as an end to the fire danger by Thursday and Friday. The weekend is looking fair and quiet. Highs in the 50s and lows in the 20s. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 1055 AM CST Tue Feb 17 2026 Visible satellite imagery shows widespread overcast skies over much of southwest KS, which is helping to limit the strong southwesterly winds today by suppressing boundary layer mixing. However, satellite trends suggest the cloud cover may begin to erode from west to east in the next few hours, allowing southwest winds to strengthen considerably into the 30-40 kt range with gusts of 50+ kts through the afternoon. As a result, blowing dust may drive visibility into MVFR. After sunset, winds will begin to weaken, dropping to aoa 12 kts by 04-05Z tonight. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 425 AM CST Tue Feb 17 2026 Dangerous wildfire conditions are expected Tuesday afternoon, especially west of US 283. Unseasonably warm temperatures in the 70s will drive minimum relative humidity to 10-15%. Intense southwest winds are expected after 10 am, averaging 30-40 mph, with gusts of 60-70 mph west of US 283. This combination will create a volatile wildfire environment, especially west of US 283, and especially once the expected cirrus canopy clears during the afternoon. Avoid all outdoor burning. Emergency managers, fire managers, and fire crews in the field should prepare for operations Tuesday afternoon. Any ignition will have potential for becoming a wildfire quickly, spread rapidly, and exhibit extreme fire behavior. && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning until 8 PM CST /7 PM MST/ this evening for KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090. High Wind Warning until 6 PM CST /5 PM MST/ this evening for KSZ043>045-061>064-074>078-084>088. Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening for KSZ061>063-074>077-084>087. && DISCUSSION...Sugden AVIATION...Springer FIRE WEATHER...Turner
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Dodge City KS 227 AM CST Tue Feb 17 2026 KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-180830- 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- 227 AM CST Tue Feb 17 2026 /127 AM MST Tue Feb 17 2026/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Kansas, south central Kansas, southwest Kansas, and west central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tuesday. Dangerous wildfire conditions are expected Tuesday afternoon, especially west of US 283. Unseasonably warm temperatures in the 70s will drive minimum relative humidity to 10-15%. Intense southwest winds are expected after 10 am, averaging 30-40 mph, with gusts of 60-70 mph west of US 283. This combination will create a volatile wildfire environment, especially west of US 283, and especially once the expected cirrus canopy clears during the afternoon. Avoid all outdoor burning. Emergency managers, fire managers, and fire crews in the field should prepare for operations Tuesday afternoon. Any ignition will have potential for becoming a wildfire quickly, spread rapidly, and exhibit extreme fire behavior. Areas of blowing dust will reduce visibility and make travel difficult. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Additional fire weather concerns are expected Wednesday, although at a lower intensity compared to Tuesday. Some snow accumulations are possible Friday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters may be required Tuesday afternoon to monitor wildfire activity along with areas of blowing dust. Turner
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
27 high wind, 8 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
Mesonet station 4 NE Hayne UR350 Kismws recorded several high wind gusts, peaking 56 knots.
Kansas Forest Service reported the Tennis Road fire began on February 17 and continued until February 19. The total acreage burned was 2,766 acres. No structures were threatened in this fire.
Kansas Forest Service reported the Andrew Lane fire began in Seward County before spreading into nearby Meade County. The exact acreage in Seward County is unknown, but the fire burned a total of 7,217 acres. The fire began on February 17, and was controlled by February 20. No structures were threatened from this fire.
Personal weather station 3 NNW Montezuma KKSMONTE7 measured numerous high wind gusts during the afternoon, peaking 63 knots.
AWOS Station KLBL measured high wind gusts multiple times throughout the day, peaking 51 knots.
AWOS station KEHA Elkhart measured several high wind gusts, peaking 51 knots.
RAWS station CGLK1 Cimarron recording a couple instances of high winds, peaking 53 knots.
AWOS station KJHN Johnson City measured several instances of high wind, maxing at 50 knots.
Kansas Forest Service reported the Andrew Lane fire that began in Seward County crossed into Meade County. The exact acreage burned in the county is unknown, but the total fire acreage burned was 7,217 acres. The fire began on February 17, and was controlled by February 20. No structures were threatened from this fire.
ASOS station KGCK recorded multiple instances of high winds, peaking 59 knots.
Personal weather station 2 ESE Ulysses Videra_weather reported 54 knot wind gust.
AWOS station K3K3 Syracuse measured several instances of high winds, peaking 53 knots.
Personal weather station 9 S Montezuma Dirks_Farm recorded a few instances of high winds, peaking 56 knots.
AWOS station K36K recorded several instances of high winds, peaking at 55 knots.
Personal weather station 2 SSE Wright KKSWRIGH5 recorded several instances of high winds, peaking 57 knots.
Personal weather station 4 SW Friend KKSHOLCO17 recorded a few instances of high winds, peaking at 62 knots.
The Ranger Road fire was a large wildfire that began in Beaver County, OK during the early afternoon hours of February 17th. Fueled by strong southwesterly winds and low relative humidity, the fire spread quickly into Kansas. Evacuations were ordered for the town of Englewood, Ashland, and all of southern Clark County. Two firefighters were injured battling the blaze in the county. It was reported by local ranchers that hundreds of cattle perished in the fire. The exact acreage burned in Clark County is unknown, but the total acreage burned from the fire was 283,383. The fire was controlled February 24.
The Ranger Road fire was a large wildfire that began in Beaver County, OK during the early afternoon hours of February 17th. Fueled by strong southwesterly winds and low relative humidity, the fire spread quickly into Kansas. It was reported by local ranchers that hundreds of cattle perished in the fire. The exact acreage burned in Meade County is unknown, but the total acreage burned from the fire was 283,383. The fire was controlled February 24.
ASOS station KDDC Dodge City Regional Airport recorded a high wind gust of 50 knots.
AWOS station KHQG Hugoton recorded multiple instances of high wind, peaking 56 knots.
Personal weather station 1 NW Scott City KKSSCOTT54 recorded a few instances of high winds, peaking at 52 knots.
Personal weather station 4 SSE Dighton KKSDIGHT22 recorded several instances of high wind, peaking 59 knots.
Personal weather station 2 N Dodge City KKSDODGE57 recorded several instances of high winds, peaking at 56 knots.
KSDOT weather station K5WKY recorded a 51 knot wind gust.
Personal weather station 1 NW Catherine Northwest_of_Catherine recorded a wind gust of 56 knots.
Mesonet station UP313 recorded a wind gust of 50 knots.
Personal weather station 6 NNW Radium KKSPAWNE14 recorded a wind gust of 50 knots.
Personal weather station 2 WNW Hardtner KZLF_Transmitter_Site recorded a wind gust of 51 knots.
Personal weather station 3 W Bloom KKSBLOOM2 recorded a wind gust of 55 knots.
CWOP mesonet station DW9907 recorded a wind gust of 50 knots.
Mesonet station UP856 recorded a wind gust of 51 knots.
The Stevens Fire began in Texan County, OK in the early afternoon of February 17 and moved into Kansas later in the afternoon driven by high winds and low relative humidity. Exact acreage burned in Seward County is unknown, but the fire burned a total 13,937 acres. Precautionary evacuations were posted for the southwest corner of Seward County. The fire was controlled on February 20th.
The Stevens Fire began in Texan County, OK in the early afternoon of February 17 and moved into Kansas later in the afternoon driven by high winds and low relative humidity. Exact acreage burned in Stevens County is unknown, but the fire burned a total 13,937 acres. There were no reports of structures threatened. The fire was controlled on February 20th.
Personal weather station 5 NNW Ash Valley KKSRUSHC14 recorded a wind gust of 52 knots.
The Ranger Road fire was a large wildfire that began in Beaver County, OK during the early afternoon hours of February 17th. Fueled by strong southwesterly winds and low relative humidity, the fire spread quickly into Kansas, and into Comanche County during the late afternoon. Evacuations were ordered south of Highway 160 and west of Road 5 in Comanche County. It was reported by local ranchers that hundreds of cattle perished in the fire. The exact acreage burned in Comanche County is unknown, but the total acreage burned from the fire was 283,383. The fire was controlled February 24.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, February 2026
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1317156, 1319635, 1319638, 1317097, 1317076, 1317164, 1317176, 1317178, 1319634, 1317238, 1317182, 1317202, 1317192, 1317214, 1317247, 1317228, 1319960, 1319964, 1317242, 1317328, 1317339, 1317354, 1317310, 1317347, 1317361, 1317404, 1317386, 1317400, 1317401, 1317403, 1317406, 1319954, 1319955, 1317410, 1319969.