859
FNUS63 KUNR 170826
RFDUNR
RANGELAND FIRE DANGER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
226 AM MDT TUE MAR 17 2026
DISCUSSION
ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES AND GUSTY WINDS TODAY
WILL BRING ELEVATED TO NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 60S TO LOW 70S. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY
WILL RANGE FROM 25 PERCENT OVER FAR SOUTHWEST SOUTH DAKOTA TO 50
PERCENT OVER NORTHWEST SOUTH DAKOTA. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL BE
STRONGEST ACROSS NORTHWEST SOUTH DAKOTA AND PORTIONS OF FAR
SOUTHWEST SOUTH DAKOTA, WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH.
SNOW COVER WILL QUICKLY MELT AWAY TODAY ACROSS ACROSS MANY
LOCATIONS. THE FIRE DANGER WILL BE HIGHER WHERE THE GROUND IS
EXPOSED.
SDZ027-041-072-075-180045-
SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS-WESTERN FALL RIVER-STURGIS/PIEDMONT FOOTHILLS-
EASTERN FALL RIVER-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF HOT SPRINGS, ANGOSTURA RESERVOIR,
ARDMORE, EDGEMONT, PROVO, RUMFORD, STURGIS, PIEDMONT, BLACK HAWK,
SUMMERSET, TILFORD, ORAL, OELRICHS, AND SMITHWICK
226 AM MDT TUE MAR 17 2026
..EXTREME FIRE DANGER
THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX WILL REACH THE EXTREME CATEGORY
THIS AFTERNOON. EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS AND VERY LOW MOISTURE
CONTENT OF GRASSES, AND OTHER DRY ORGANIC MATERIAL ON THE GROUND,
INDICATE THAT CRITICAL BURNING CONDITIONS EXIST. ALL FIRES HAVE
THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME LARGE AND SPREAD QUICKLY BECOMING ERRATIC
WITH EXTREME BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS. NO OUTDOOR BURNING
SHOULD TAKE PLACE.
THE OUTLOOK FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER
INDEX WILL REACH THE VERY HIGH CATEGORY.
SDZ025-026-030-042-073-074-076-180045-
NORTHERN FOOTHILLS-RAPID CITY-CUSTER CO PLAINS-
NORTHERN OGLALA LAKOTA-SOUTHERN MEADE CO PLAINS-HERMOSA FOOTHILLS-
SOUTHERN OGLALA LAKOTA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF SPEARFISH, WHITEWOOD, SAINT ONGE,
RAPID CITY, FOLSOM, KYLE, ROCKYFORD, SHARPS CORNER,
ELLSWORTH AFB, UNION CENTER, ELM SPRINGS, ENNING, WHITE OWL,
HERMOSA, BUFFALO GAP, FAIRBURN, PINE RIDGE, OGLALA, WOUNDED KNEE,
PORCUPINE, MANDERSON, AND BATESLAND
226 AM MDT TUE MAR 17 2026
..VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER
THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX WILL REACH THE VERY HIGH CATEGORY
THIS AFTERNOON. VERY POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS AND VERY LOW
MOISTURE CONTENT OF GRASSES, AND OTHER DRY ORGANIC MATERIAL ON
THE GROUND, INDICATE THAT DANGEROUS BURNING CONDITIONS EXIST.
FIRES WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY AND SHOW ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. OUTDOOR
BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
THE OUTLOOK FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER
INDEX WILL REACH THE HIGH CATEGORY TO VERY HIGH CATEGORY.
SDZ001-012-013-044-078-180045-
HARDING-BUTTE-NORTHERN MEADE CO PLAINS-BENNETT-SOUTHERN PERKINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF BUFFALO, CAMP CROOK, LADNER, LUDLOW,
REDIG, REVA, BELLE FOURCHE, NEWELL, VALE, FRUITDALE,
BELLE FOURCHE RESERVOIR, HOOVER, FAITH, MUD BUTTE, RED OWL,
HOWES, OPAL, MARTIN, ALLEN, TUTHILL, HARRINGTON, USTA, BISON,
SORUM, AND ZEONA
226 AM MDT TUE MAR 17 2026
..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 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.
THE OUTLOOK FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER
INDEX WILL REACH THE VERY HIGH CATEGORY.
SDZ031-077-180045-
PENNINGTON CO PLAINS-SOUTHERN JACKSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF BOX ELDER, CAPUTA, NEW UNDERWOOD, WASTA,
WALL, SCENIC, QUINN, LONG VALLEY, WANBLEE, AND POTATO CREEK
226 AM MDT TUE MAR 17 2026
..MODERATE FIRE DANGER
THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX WILL REACH THE MODERATE CATEGORY
THIS AFTERNOON. MARGINAL WEATHER CONDITIONS OR A 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.
THE OUTLOOK FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER
INDEX WILL REACH THE VERY HIGH CATEGORY.
SDZ002-014-032-043-046-047-049-180045-
NORTHERN PERKINS-ZIEBACH-HAAKON-NORTHERN JACKSON-MELLETTE-TODD-
TRIPP-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF LEMMON, SHADEHILL, MEADOW, PRAIRIE CITY,
DUPREE, GLAD VALLEY, CHERRY CREEK, SOUTH EAGLE BUTTE, PHILIP,
MIDLAND, MILESVILLE, KADOKA, COTTONWOOD, INTERIOR, BELVIDERE,
WHITE RIVER, WOOD, NORRIS, CEDAR BUTTE, MISSION, ROSEBUD,
SAINT FRANCIS, PARMELEE, WINNER, COLOME, WITTEN, HAMILL,
AND IDEAL
226 AM MDT TUE MAR 17 2026 /326 AM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026/
..LOW FIRE DANGER
THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX WILL REACH THE LOW CATEGORY THIS
AFTERNOON. FAVORABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS OR A HIGH MOISTURE
CONTENT OF GRASSES, AND OTHER DRY ORGANIC MATERIAL ON THE GROUND,
INDICATE THAT THE PROBABILITY OF A FAST MOVING FIRE IS LOW.
OUTDOOR BURNING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN USUALLY BE PERFORMED
WITH REASONABLE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, BUT SHOULD BE MONITORED.
THE OUTLOOK FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER
INDEX WILL REACH THE HIGH CATEGORY TO VERY HIGH CATEGORY.
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