578
FNUS63 KFSD 112138
RFDFSD
RANGELAND FIRE DANGER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
438 PM CDT MON MAY 11 2026
DISCUSSION
ISSUED AT 336 PM CDT MON MAY 11 2026
A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AT NOON UNTIL 9 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA, NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA, SOUTHWESTERN
MINNESOTA, AND NORTHWESTERN IOWA. A VERY DRY AIR MASS SETTLES OVER
THE REGION BEHIND AN EARLY MORNING COLD FRONT. RELATIVE HUMIDITY
VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO FALL TO LESS THAN 25% WITH MOST OF THE REGION
SEEING VALUES AS LOW AS 19-22%. IN ADDITION, NORTHWESTERLY WINDS
WILL INCREASE BEHIND THE FRONT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20-30 MPH WILL BE
WIDESPREAD ALONG WITH GUSTS OF 35-40 MPH. THE COMBINATION OF STRONG
WINDS, VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, AND WARM HIGHS IN THE 70S IS WHAT
PROMPTED THE RED FLAG WARNING.
WEDNESDAY CONDITIONS REMAIN VERY DRY AND WARM WITH HIGHS IN THE MID
70S TO LOW 80S. HOWEVER, WINDS WILL BE LIGHT AND VARIABLE, THUS
NEGATING THE NEED FOR A FIRE HEADLINE. HOWEVER, PLEASE CONTINUE TO
USE CAUTION TO AVOID FIRE STARTS.
THURSDAY CONDITIONS WILL AGAIN BE FAVORABLE FOR FIRE WITH SOUTHERLY
SUSTAINED WINDS AT 25-30 MPH AND GUSTS 35-40 MPH. A FEW ISOLATED
GUSTS OF 45+ MPH ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. ADDITIONAL FIRE HEADLINES
MAY BE NECESSARY. PLEASE CHECK BACK THROUGH THE WEEK FOR
UPDATES.
PEOPLE ARE URGED TO EXERCISE EXTREME CARE WITH RESPECT TO OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES THAT COULD CAUSE GRASS FIRES. AVOID EQUIPMENT THAT CAN
CAUSE SPARKS NEAR DRY GRASS OR BRUSH. DO NOT TOSS CIGARETTES ON
THE GROUND. REPORT NEW FIRES QUICKLY TO THE NEAREST FIRE
DEPARTMENT OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE.
IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-
098-NEZ014-SDZ039-052>054-057>071-120045-
LYON-OSCEOLA-DICKINSON-SIOUX-O'BRIEN-CLAY-PLYMOUTH-CHEROKEE-
BUENA VISTA-WOODBURY-IDA-LINCOLN-MURRAY-COTTONWOOD-NOBLES-JACKSON-
PIPESTONE-ROCK-DAKOTA-KINGSBURY-JERAULD-SANBORN-MINER-BRULE-
AURORA-DAVISON-HANSON-MCCOOK-MINNEHAHA-CHARLES MIX-DOUGLAS-
HUTCHINSON-TURNER-BON HOMME-YANKTON-UNION-
..MODERATE FIRE DANGER
THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX WILL REACH THE MODERATE
CATEGORY THIS AFTERNOON. MARGINAL WEATHER CONDITIONS OR
LOWERING MOISTURE CONTENT OF GRASSES, AND OTHER DRY ORGANIC
MATERIAL ON THE GROUND, INDICATE THAT THERE IS SOME POTENTIAL
FOR A FIRE TO SPREAD. ANY OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD BE CLOSELY
MONITORED.
OUTLOOK FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON...THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX
WILL REACH THE HIGH CATEGORY.
THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER PRODUCT REFLECTS FIRE DANGER FOR NATIVE
GRASSES. IT IS NOT INTENDED FOR CURED AGRICULTURAL CROPS, NOR
WILL IT REFLECT CONDITIONS IN ROAD DITCHES WHICH HAVE BEEN MOWED.
NEZ013-SDZ038-040-050-055-056-120045-
DIXON-BEADLE-BROOKINGS-GREGORY-LAKE-MOODY-
..HIGH FIRE DANGER
THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX WILL REACH THE HIGH CATEGORY
THIS AFTERNOON. UNFAVORABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LOW
MOISTURE CONTENT OF GRASSES, AND OTHER DRY ORGANIC MATERIAL
ON THE GROUND, INDICATE THAT THERE IS A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR
A FIRE TO SPREAD.. OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD BE RESTRICTED TO
EARLY MORNING OR EVENING HOURS, WHEN WIND SPEEDS ARE USUALLY
LOWER AND THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS HIGHER.
OUTLOOK FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON...THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX
WILL REACH THE HIGH CATEGORY.
THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER PRODUCT REFLECTS FIRE DANGER FOR NATIVE
GRASSES. IT IS NOT INTENDED FOR CURED AGRICULTURAL CROPS, NOR
WILL IT REFLECT CONDITIONS IN ROAD DITCHES WHICH HAVE BEEN MOWED.
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