Weather Alerts-

Make preparations per the instructions

North Platte - NE, US, National Weather Service

Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM CST /8 AM MST/ THIS MORNING TO 6 PM CST /5 PM MST/ THIS EVENING FOR THE SANDHILLS ALONG AND NORTH OF I-80 AND THE ENTIRE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE. The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty west winds, warm temperatures and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 9 AM CST /8 AM MST/ to 6 PM CST /5 PM MST/ this evening. AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR and Fire Weather Zone 206 Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest. TIMING...From mid-morning Monday through the afternoon hours. WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph, becoming northwest late in the afternoon. RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 14 percent. TEMPERATURES...Up to 75. IMPACTS...Any fire starts will have the potential for quick growth and rapid spread and may 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 THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON... .The combination of low relative humidity and gusty winds through this afternoon, will lead to critical fire weather conditions across the Sandhills. Westerly winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph are expected across the western Sandhills, with gusts of 25 to 30 mph further east across the Sandhills. Winds will turn northwest late afternoon.