FNUS63 KUNR 210948

RFDUNR



Rangeland Fire Danger Statement

National Weather Service Rapid City SD

348 AM MDT Sat Mar 21 2026



.DISCUSSION...Temperatures today will range from the mid 70s over

northwestern South Dakota to the low 90s across southwestern and

south central South Dakota. Minimum humidities will range from 8

to 25%. Winds will range from 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 to 40

mph. Winds will shift from the south to the north as a front 

crosses the region from north to south this afternoon. The 

combination of unseasonably warm temperatures, dry conditions, and

breezy winds will create very high to extreme fire danger across 

much of the area. 





SDZ027-030-031-041-042-074-075-220100-

Southern Foothills-Custer Co Plains-Pennington Co Plains-

Western Fall River-Northern Oglala Lakota-Hermosa Foothills-

Eastern Fall River-

Including the cities of Hot Springs, Angostura Reservoir, Folsom, 

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

Ardmore, Edgemont, Provo, Rumford, Kyle, Rockyford, 

Sharps Corner, Hermosa, Buffalo Gap, Fairburn, Oral, Oelrichs, 

and Smithwick

348 AM MDT Sat Mar 21 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 Sunday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index

will reach the high category. 





$$



SDZ001-002-012>014-025-026-032-043-044-046-047-049-072-073-

076>078-220100-

Harding-Northern Perkins-Butte-Northern Meade Co Plains-Ziebach-

Northern Foothills-Rapid City-Haakon-Northern Jackson-Bennett-

Mellette-Todd-Tripp-Sturgis/Piedmont Foothills-

Southern Meade Co Plains-Southern Oglala Lakota-Southern Jackson-

Southern Perkins-

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

Redig, Reva, Lemmon, Shadehill, Meadow, Prairie City, 

Belle Fourche, Newell, Vale, Fruitdale, Belle Fourche Reservoir, 

Hoover, Faith, Mud Butte, Red Owl, Howes, Opal, Dupree, 

Glad Valley, Cherry Creek, South Eagle Butte, Spearfish, 

Whitewood, Saint Onge, Rapid City, Philip, Midland, Milesville, 

Kadoka, Cottonwood, Interior, Belvidere, Martin, Allen, Tuthill, 

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

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

Ideal, Sturgis, Piedmont, Black Hawk, Summerset, Tilford, 

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 Sat Mar 21 2026 /448 AM CDT Sat Mar 21 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 Sunday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index

will reach the moderate category to high category. 





$$