Rangeland Fire Danger Forecast
Issued by NWS Rapid City, SD
Issued by NWS Rapid City, SD
598 FNUS63 KUNR 200948 RFDUNR Rangeland Fire Danger Statement National Weather Service Rapid City SD 348 AM MDT Wed Aug 20 2025 .DISCUSSION... Hot and dry today with afternoon highs in the upper 90s to low 100s. Afternoon humidities will drop to 15 to 20% over much of the area, though Tripp County will see afternoon RHs in the 35 to 40% range. Southerly winds will increase through today with sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph. Winds could gust up to 30 mph, especially across northwestern SD. SDZ027-041-075-210100- Southern Foothills-Western Fall River-Eastern Fall River- Including the cities of Hot Springs, Angostura Reservoir, Ardmore, Edgemont, Provo, Rumford, Oral, Oelrichs, and Smithwick 348 AM MDT Wed Aug 20 2025 ...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 Thursday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index will reach the high category. $$ SDZ001-012-030-031-042-074-210100- Harding-Butte-Custer Co Plains-Pennington Co Plains- Northern Oglala Lakota-Hermosa Foothills- Including the cities of Buffalo, Camp Crook, Ladner, Ludlow, Redig, Reva, Belle Fourche, Newell, Vale, Fruitdale, Belle Fourche Reservoir, Hoover, Folsom, Box Elder, Caputa, New Underwood, Wasta, Wall, Scenic, Quinn, Kyle, Rockyford, Sharps Corner, Hermosa, Buffalo Gap, and Fairburn 348 AM MDT Wed Aug 20 2025 ...HIGH FIRE DANGER... The grassland fire danger index will reach the high category this afternoon. Unfavorable weather conditions and low moisture content of grasses, and other dry organic material on the ground, indicate that there is high potential for a fire to spread. Outdoor burning should be restricted to early morning or evening hours when wind speeds are usually lower and the relative humidity is higher. The outlook for Thursday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index will reach the moderate category to high category. $$ SDZ002-013-014-032-043-046-073-076>078-210100- Northern Perkins-Northern Meade Co Plains-Ziebach-Haakon- Northern Jackson-Mellette-Southern Meade Co Plains- Southern Oglala Lakota-Southern Jackson-Southern Perkins- Including the cities of Lemmon, Shadehill, Meadow, Prairie City, Faith, Mud Butte, Red Owl, Howes, Opal, Dupree, Glad Valley, Cherry Creek, South Eagle Butte, Philip, Midland, Milesville, Kadoka, Cottonwood, Interior, Belvidere, White River, Wood, Norris, Cedar Butte, Ellsworth AFB, Union Center, Elm Springs, Enning, White Owl, Pine Ridge, Oglala, Wounded Knee, Porcupine, Manderson, Batesland, Long Valley, Wanblee, Potato Creek, Usta, Bison, Sorum, and Zeona 348 AM MDT Wed Aug 20 2025 /448 AM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025/ ...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 Thursday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index will reach the low category to moderate category. $$ SDZ025-026-044-047-049-072-210100- Northern Foothills-Rapid City-Bennett-Todd-Tripp- Sturgis/Piedmont Foothills- Including the cities of Spearfish, Whitewood, Saint Onge, Rapid City, Martin, Allen, Tuthill, Harrington, Mission, Rosebud, Saint Francis, Parmelee, Winner, Colome, Witten, Hamill, Ideal, Sturgis, Piedmont, Black Hawk, Summerset, and Tilford 348 AM MDT Wed Aug 20 2025 /448 AM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025/ ...LOW FIRE DANGER... The grassland fire danger index will reach the low category this afternoon. Favorable weather conditions or a high moisture content of grasses, and other dry organic material on the ground, indicate that the probability of a fast moving fire is low. Outdoor burning under these conditions can usually be performed with reasonable safety precautions, but should be monitored. The outlook for Thursday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index will reach the low category. $$