# Red Flag Warning Issued for Slope and Bowman Counties in North Dakota

> The National Weather Service Bismarck office has alerted residents of critical fire weather conditions expected throughout Friday due to strong winds and low humidity.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-23T13:53:06.204737Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/red-flag-warning-issued-for-slope-and-bowman-counties-in-north-dakota-eb843b4f

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Bismarck, North Dakota, issued a Red Flag Warning for Slope and Bowman counties, effective Friday, October 23, 2026 [1]. The warning is in effect from noon today until 8:00 PM MDT this evening [1]. This alert signals that critical fire weather conditions are expected across far southwest North Dakota [1]. The NWS Bismarck office updated its map on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 4:08:27 am CDT [2].

The warning was issued at 4:44 AM CDT on October 23 [1]. Weather forecasts for the affected areas predict south winds sustained at approximately 20 miles per hour, with gusts potentially reaching 40 miles per hour [1]. Relative humidity levels are anticipated to fall to between 15 and 25 percent [1]. These combined factors create an environment where any fires that ignite are likely to spread rapidly [1].

Forecasters at NWS Bismarck had previously indicated the potential for such conditions. A fire weather discussion noted that on Friday, breezy south to southeast winds were expected along with unseasonably warm temperatures [5]. By Friday afternoon, dry air could push into southwest North Dakota, leading to a few hours of near critical, or possibly even critical, fire weather conditions due to warm temperatures, breezy southerly winds, and low humidities of 20 to 25 percent [5].

Local authorities in Bowman County have burn restrictions in place that are activated when a Red Flag Warning is issued [3]. These restrictions prohibit open burning, fireworks, and the burning of garbage piles and pits [3]. The only allowed exception is the responsible use of gas grills, provided they are used at a safe distance from combustible materials [3]. Violating these burn restrictions can result in a Class B misdemeanor, carrying maximum penalties of 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine [3].

The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services provides an online resource where the public can verify current burn restrictions, fire danger ratings, and active Red Flag Warnings [4][6]. It is critical to check for current restrictions before outdoor activities, as conditions can change during the day [4][6].

## Evidence cited
1. NWS Red Flag Warning: Slope; Bowman (nws_alerts) — https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.7217393aa0e452c4d7474f5d8fafd46954e233b2.001.1
2. NWS Forecast Office Bismarck, ND (weather.gov) — https://www.weather.gov/bis/
3. Notices (bowmannd.com) — https://bowmannd.com/notices/
4. North Dakota Burn Ban and Fire Danger Map (ndresponse.gov) — https://ndresponse.gov/burn-ban-restrictions-fire-danger-maps
5. Western and Central North Dakota Fire Weather (weather.gov) — https://www.weather.gov/fire/BIS
6. North Dakota Fire Danger and Burn Ban Map (arcgis.com) — https://gis.nd.gov/arcgis/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=383bf929112443a696ee84c25f4b46c6