FNUS63 KUNR 190813

RFDUNR



Rangeland Fire Danger Statement

National Weather Service Rapid City SD

213 AM MDT Thu Mar 19 2026



.DISCUSSION...Temperatures today will range from the upper 70s to

low 80s with minimum humidities ranging from 10 to 20%. Winds will

be out of the west at 10 to 20 mph, gusting up to 20 to 25 mph

over much of the western South Dakota plains and up to 40 mph

across northwestern South Dakota. The combination of unseasonably

warm temperatures, dry conditions, and breezy westerly winds will

create very high to extreme fire danger across much of the area. 





SDZ001-012-200100-

Harding-Butte-

Including the cities of Buffalo, Camp Crook, Ladner, Ludlow, 

Redig, Reva, Belle Fourche, Newell, Vale, Fruitdale, 

Belle Fourche Reservoir, and Hoover

213 AM MDT Thu Mar 19 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 Friday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index

will reach the very high category. 





$$



SDZ002-013-014-025>027-030>032-041>043-072>075-078-200100-

Northern Perkins-Northern Meade Co Plains-Ziebach-

Northern Foothills-Rapid City-Southern Foothills-Custer Co Plains-

Pennington Co Plains-Haakon-Western Fall River-

Northern Oglala Lakota-Northern Jackson-

Sturgis/Piedmont Foothills-Southern Meade Co Plains-

Hermosa Foothills-Eastern Fall River-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, Spearfish, Whitewood, 

Saint Onge, Rapid City, Hot Springs, Angostura Reservoir, Folsom, 

Box Elder, Caputa, New Underwood, Wasta, Wall, Scenic, Quinn, 

Philip, Midland, Milesville, Ardmore, Edgemont, Provo, Rumford, 

Kyle, Rockyford, Sharps Corner, Kadoka, Cottonwood, Interior, 

Belvidere, Sturgis, Piedmont, Black Hawk, Summerset, Tilford, 

Ellsworth AFB, Union Center, Elm Springs, Enning, White Owl, 

Hermosa, Buffalo Gap, Fairburn, Oral, Oelrichs, Smithwick, Usta, 

Bison, Sorum, and Zeona

213 AM MDT Thu Mar 19 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 Friday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index

will reach the high category to very high category. 





$$



SDZ044-046-047-049-076-077-200100-

Bennett-Mellette-Todd-Tripp-Southern Oglala Lakota-

Southern Jackson-

Including the cities of Martin, Allen, Tuthill, Harrington, 

White River, Wood, Norris, Cedar Butte, Mission, Rosebud, 

Saint Francis, Parmelee, Winner, Colome, Witten, Hamill, Ideal, 

Pine Ridge, Oglala, Wounded Knee, Porcupine, Manderson, 

Batesland, Long Valley, Wanblee, and Potato Creek

213 AM MDT Thu Mar 19 2026 /313 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 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 Friday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index

will reach the high category to very high category. 





$$