696  
WWUS83 KLBF 171557  
RFWLBF  
 
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE  
957 AM CST TUE FEB 17 2026  
   
..THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION  
 
NEZ204-210-219-180000-  
/O.EXT.KLBF.FW.W.0006.260217T1800Z-260218T0400Z/  
EASTERN PANHANDLE/CRESCENT LAKE NWR-FRENCHMAN BASIN-LOESS PLAINS-  
957 AM CST TUE FEB 17 2026 /857 AM MST TUE FEB 17 2026/  
 
...PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN  
EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CST /9 PM MST/ THIS EVENING FOR WESTERN AND  
SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA...  
 
* 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 9 PM MST (NOON TO 10 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.  
 
 
 
 
 
NEZ206-208-209-180000-  
/O.EXT.KLBF.FW.W.0006.260217T1800Z-260218T0400Z/  
SANDHILLS/VALENTINE NWR/NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST-  
NIOBRARA VALLEY/FORT NIOBRARA NWR/SAMUEL R MCKELVIE NATIONAL  
FOREST-LOUP RIVERS BASIN-  
957 AM CST TUE FEB 17 2026  
 
...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CST THIS EVENING  
FOR MUCH OF THE SANDHILLS INTO CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL  
NEBRASKA...  
 
* 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 10 PM CST (11 AM TO 9 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.  
 
 
 
 
 
BROWN  
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
The Nexlab NE Page
Main Text Page