The NWS has issued red flag warnings for specific U.S. states, outlining the exact locations, times the warnings shall remain in effect, and precautions.
Red Flag Warnings have been issued for six U.S. states—Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, South Dakota, and Kansas—indicating dangerous fire weather conditions expected to persist throughout the day. In these areas, a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels is expected to create a significant risk for fires.
The National Weather Service’s forecast warns that any fires that develop will likely spread quickly, making them difficult to control or extinguish. As a result, residents are strongly advised to avoid any outdoor burning.
In eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa, the warning is in effect from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, with winds from the northwest reaching speeds of 20 to 35 miles per hour and gusts up to 45 miles per hour. The relative humidity in this region could drop as low as 19 percent, further amplifying the risk.
Similar conditions are forecast across Nebraska’s panhandle, Sandhills, and other fire-prone areas, where winds could gust up to 50 miles per hour.
South Dakota’s fire-prone counties, including those near the Missouri River Valley, are also under the warning from 10 a.m. this morning (February 28, 2025) to 6 p.m., with gusty winds up to 50 miles per hour and relative humidity levels sinking to around 25 percent.
Even though temperatures are not excessively high, the dry air and strong winds are enough to support the rapid spread of any ignition.
Across portions of northern and central Iowa, fire weather conditions are also considered critical, with winds reaching up to 55 miles per hour and relative humidity dropping as low as 25 percent during the afternoon hours.
In western Illinois and northeast Missouri, the same dangerous combination of dry air, strong winds, and receptive fuels has prompted officials to include these areas in the warning. There, winds could reach 30 to 35 miles per hour with humidity dipping into the low 20s.
In Kansas, the warning covers much of north-central and eastern portions of the state, where conditions mirror those of neighboring states—northwest winds between 15 and 25 miles per hour, gusting up to 35 miles per hour, and humidity levels as low as 19 percent. More details on the story will follow shortly.
