Severe Weather Alerts

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

* WINDS...Southwest to west 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 to 25 percent. The lowest
values between 10 and 15 percent are expected to occur across
areas mainly west of Highway 281.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will spread quickly. Outdoor
burning is not recommended.

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.

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON THROUGH 7 PM TUESDAY...

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a Red Flag
Warning for gusty winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels,
which is in effect from noon today to 9 PM CST this evening. The
Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 008 Republic, Fire Weather
Zone 009 Washington, Fire Weather Zone 010 Marshall, Fire
Weather Zone 020 Cloud, Fire Weather Zone 021 Clay, Fire
Weather Zone 022 Riley, Fire Weather Zone 034 Ottawa and Fire
Weather Zone 035 Dickinson.

* TIMING...From noon today to 9 PM CST this evening.

* WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...20 to 25 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...75-80 degrees.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread
quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

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.

Critical to extremely critical fire weather forecast for today.
Low relative humidity, sustained winds around 40 mph and very dry
fuels will lead to extreme fire spread for any fires that ignite.
Winds are forecast to quickly increase between 9 to 10 mountain
time this morning. The strongest winds are forecast from around
10am through 2pm mountain time. A lull in the winds is possible
before a second surge of winds moves through during the mid to
late afternoon. Southwest winds will change to west behind a cold
front in the afternoon. Blowing dust may also occur near open
fields or other source regions causing reductions in visibility
and poor air quality.

* AFFECTED AREA...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR
Fire Weather Zones 001 Cheyenne, 002 Rawlins, 013 Sherman, 027
Wallace, 041 Greeley, 079 Dundy, 080 Hitchcock, 252 Yuma, 253
Kit Carson and 254 Cheyenne.

* TIMING...From 10 AM MST /11 AM CST/ this morning to 8 PM MST
/9 PM CST/ this evening.

* WINDS...West 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 9 percent.

* IMPACTS...This is a Particularly Dangerous Situation. If fires
start, they will be extremely dangerous and exhibit erratic
fire behavior. Any fires that develop will rapidly grow and
spread out of control.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Comply with burn bans and regulations. Avoid driving on dry grass
or brush. Maintain vehicle brakes and tires and secure tow chains
to avoid dragging. Never toss lit cigarettes onto the ground.
Evacuate if fire/smoke is heading your way, or if ordered to do
so by local officials.

...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern
Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, Fire Weather Zone 210 Frenchman
Basin and Fire Weather Zone 219 Loess Plains.

* TIMING...11 AM to 7 PM MST (Noon to 8 PM CST) Today.

* WINDS...West 30 to 40 mph with gusts 45 to 55 mph. Highest
gusts will be in the western Sandhills and southeastern
Nebraska Panhandle.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 to 15 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...68 to 75 degrees.

* LIGHTNING...None expected.

* IMPACTS...This is a Particularly Dangerous Situation. If fires
start, they will spread rapidly and will be extremely
difficult to control.

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.

Critical to extremely critical fire weather forecast for today.
Low relative humidity, sustained winds around 40 mph and very dry
fuels will lead to extreme fire spread for any fires that ignite.
Winds are forecast to quickly increase between 9 to 10 mountain
time this morning. The strongest winds are forecast from around
10am through 2pm mountain time. A lull in the winds is possible
before a second surge of winds moves through during the mid to
late afternoon. Southwest winds will change to west behind a cold
front in the afternoon. Blowing dust may also occur near open
fields or other source regions causing reductions in visibility
and poor air quality.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 003 Decatur, 004 Norton,
014 Thomas, 015 Sheridan, 016 Graham, 028 Logan, 029 Gove, 042
Wichita and 081 Red Willow.

* TIMING...From 11 AM this morning to 9 PM CST this evening.

* WINDS...West 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 12 percent.

* IMPACTS...Dangerous and unpredictable fire behavior. Any fires
that develop may rapidly grow and spread out of control.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Comply with burn bans and regulations. Avoid driving on dry grass
or brush. Maintain vehicle brakes and tires and secure tow chains
to avoid dragging. Never toss lit cigarettes onto the ground.
Evacuate if fire/smoke is heading your way, or if ordered to do
so by local officials.

...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 206 Sandhills/Valentine
NWR/Nebraska National Forest, Fire Weather Zone 208 Niobrara
Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie National Forest and
Fire Weather Zone 209 Loup Rivers Basin.

* TIMING...Noon to 8 PM CST (11 AM to 7 PM MST) Today.

* WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts 35 to 45 mph. Highest
gusts will be in zone 206.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 13 to 20 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...68 to 75 degrees.

* LIGHTNING...None expected.

* IMPACTS...Any fire starts will have a high potential to spread
rapidly and will be difficult to control.

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.

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

* WINDS...Southwest to west 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 to 25 percent. The lowest
values between 10 and 15 percent are expected to occur across
areas mainly west of Highway 281.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will spread quickly. Outdoor
burning is not recommended.

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.

* AFFECTED AREA...Antelope, Pierce, Boone, Madison, Stanton,
Platte, Colfax, Butler, Seward, Lancaster, Saline, Jefferson,
Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, and Richardson Counties.

* TIMING...From noon today to 8 PM CST this evening.

* WINDS...Southwest 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 18 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.

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.