Health & Safety
United States · Direct U.S. connection
Red Flag Warning Issued for Parts of Wyoming and South Dakota
Critical fire weather conditions, including gusty winds and low humidity, prompted a Red Flag Warning for areas in northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota.
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THE PRIMARY BRIEF
- 01 · The primary finding
A Red Flag Warning was issued on October 23, 2026, by the National Weather Service for parts of Wyoming and South Dakota, with a national forecasting center also outlining a critical fire threat for portions of Montana, due to conditions favorable for rapid wildfire spread.
- 02 · The primary evidence
The NWS Rapid City SD issued a Red Flag Warning until 11 PM MDT on October 23 for areas including the Wyoming Black Hills and several counties in Wyoming, citing warm temperatures, humidity as low as 13%, and southwest winds gusting up to 50 mph. A national forecasting center also noted critical fire weather in northeast Wyoming, far southeastern Montana, and western South Dakota, driven by a low-pressure system and jet stream.
- 03 · Why it matters
The confluence of high winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures creates critical fire weather conditions, significantly increasing the risk of wildfires spreading rapidly. This poses a threat to lives, property, and natural resources in the affected regions, necessitating public awareness and precautions to prevent ignitions.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Rapid City, South Dakota, issued a Red Flag Warning on Friday, October 23, 2026. The warning was issued at 10:42 AM MDT and remained in effect until 11:00 PM MDT that evening. This warning covered several areas, including the Northern Foot Hills, Butte County Area, Northern Campbell, Southern Campbell, Crook County Plains, Weston County Plains, and the Wyoming Black Hills. A Red Flag Warning was also in effect from 11 AM to 11 PM MDT Friday for similar areas, including Northern Campbell, Southern Campbell, Crook County Plains, and Weston County Plains.
A national forecasting center identified a critical fire weather threat for Friday over a small portion of northeast Wyoming, far southeastern Montana, and far western South Dakota. This threat was attributed to a deepening low-pressure system over eastern Montana and a strong jet stream ahead of an incoming upper-level trough.
Forecasters predicted widespread critical fire weather conditions due to a combination of factors. Warm temperatures and humidity as low as 13% were expected. Southwest winds were forecast to gust up to 50 mph ahead of an approaching cold front. Over northeastern Wyoming, sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts reaching 40 to 50 mph, were anticipated after 10 AM Friday morning through the afternoon. In the Gillette, Wyoming, area, dry and windy conditions were contributing to high fire risk, with the NWS in Riverton predicting gusts up to 55 mph and a high of 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Winds were expected to shift to the northwest after midnight as the cold front moved through. While some showers might accompany the front, widespread wetting rains were not expected. These conditions make rapid wildfire growth possible.
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