Rangeland Fire Danger Forecast
Issued by NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Issued by NWS Sioux Falls, SD
469 FNUS63 KFSD 292004 RFDFSD Rangeland Fire Danger Statement National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 304 PM CDT Sun Sep 29 2024 .DISCUSSION... For the rest of Sunday, fire conditions will continue to be elevated for areas along and west of the James River Valley. Highs will peak in the upper 80s to low 90s, and minimum relative humidity will fall to less than 25%. Winds will be out of the south and breezy with gusts 20-25 mph with a few gusts of 30 mph possible. Monday, mixing heights of 5000 ft AGL spread east in the afternoon. Winds aloft and at the surface will shift from southerly to northwesterly as a strong cold front passes through the area mid-day. Behind the front, winds are expected to be strong, with the strongest winds west of the James River. Here, winds will be sustained at 20-30 mph, with gusts in the 35-40 mph range. With minimum relative humidity falling to less than 20%, have issued a Red Flag Warning for this area. Areas east of here, will also experience stronger winds and gusts, but confidence is lower that the winds will meet criteria. However, minimum relative humidity will fall to less than 25%, and so have issued a Fire Weather Watch for areas east of the James River. The GFDI is expected to continue to increase as the lack of precipitation and warm, breezy days take their toll on drying vegetation. Percent green is also expected to continue to trend downward, as the agricultural growing season ends. While the highest risk for fire currently reside mostly over central South Dakota, the high fire danger area is expected to move east through the upcoming week. A Red Flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are forecasted to occur. SDZ038-050-052-053-057>060-063>065-068-069-292315- Beadle-Gregory-Jerauld-Sanborn-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson- Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Bon Homme-Yankton- OUTLOOK FOR MONDAY AFTERNOON...The Grassland Fire Danger Index will reach the very 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. $$ IAZ012-NEZ013-014-SDZ039-040-054>056-061-062-066-067-070-071- 292315- Sioux-Dixon-Dakota-Kingsbury-Brookings-Miner-Lake-Moody-McCook- Minnehaha-Turner-Lincoln-Clay-Union- OUTLOOK FOR MONDAY AFTERNOON...The Grassland Fire Danger Index will reach the high category. The grassland fire danger product reflects fire danger for native grasses. It is not intended for cured agricultural crops, nor will it reflect conditions in road ditches which have been mowed. $$ IAZ001>003-013-014-020-021-031-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-098- 292315- Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-O`Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee-Woodbury- Lincoln-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson-Pipestone-Rock- OUTLOOK FOR MONDAY AFTERNOON...The Grassland Fire Danger Index will reach the moderate 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. $$ IAZ022-032-292315- Buena Vista-Ida- OUTLOOK FOR MONDAY AFTERNOON...The Grassland Fire Danger Index will reach the low category. The grassland fire danger product reflects fire danger for native grasses. It is not intended for cured agricultural crops, nor will it reflect conditions in road ditches which have been mowed. $$