Red Flag Warning

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT WEDNESDAY DUE TO GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHERN BLACK HILLS, FALL RIVER COUNTY AREA, CUSTER COUNTY PLAINS, PINE RIDGE AREA, BADLANDS AREA, BENNETT COUNTY AREA, SOUTHERN CAMPBELL, AND WESTON COUNTY PLAINS...

.A cold front will move through early Wednesday morning. Behind the cold front, strong northwest winds from 25 to 35 mph with gusts from 40 to 55 mph are expected. Minimum relative humidity values will dip as low as 18 percent, which is higher than normal thresholds. However, the strong winds will make up the difference as well as antecedent D2 to D3 drought and very dry weather over the past 1-2 weeks. Thus, critical fire weather conditions are expected for parts of northeastern Wyoming and southwestern South Dakota late Wednesday morning through the early evening hours.

The National Weather Service in Rapid City SD has issued a Red Flag Warning.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 315, 317, 321, 322, 325, 326, 332, and 333.

* TIMING...From 11 AM to 8 PM MDT Wednesday.

* WINDS...Northwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts from 40 to 55 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Relative Humidity as low as 18 percent.

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