CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED ACROSS NORTHEASTERN WYOMING AND WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA TODAY AND TOMORROW. .Gusty south to southwest winds will continue through this afternoon as a cold front approaches the area. Sustained winds will reach 15 to 30 mph, with some gusts as high as 45 mph. Relative humidity values for the rest of this afternoon will fall below 20 percent across much of the area, with some locations in northeastern Wyoming and southwestern South Dakota dropping to as low as 10 percent. As the front crosses the area tonight into Saturday morning, relative humidity values may briefly recover above 25 percent. However, strong south to southwest winds will continue ahead of the front. Winds will shift to the northwest and strengthen as the front crosses the region. Critical or near- critical relative humidity values are expected to return by Saturday afternoon. Coupled with strong northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph or greater, critical fire weather conditions are expected to persist through Saturday afternoon. * AFFECTED AREA. Fire Weather Zones 314 Northern Campbell, 315 Southern Campbell, 316 Crook County Plains, 317 Weston County Plains, 318 Wyoming Black Hills, 319 Northern Black Hills, 320 Central Black Hills, 321 Southern Black Hills, 322 Fall River County Area, 323 Northern Foot Hills, 324 Eastern Foot Hills, 325 Custer County Plains, 326 Pine Ridge Area, 327 Butte County Area, 328 Perkins County, 329 West Central Plains, 330 Ziebach County, 331 Haakon County Area, 332 Badlands Area, 333 Bennett County Area, 334 Mellette and Todd Counties and 335 Tripp County. * WINDS. This afternoon and evening, south to southwest at 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. On Saturday, northwest at 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY. As low as 10 percent this afternoon. As low as 14 percent Saturday afternoon. * IMPACTS. The combination of gusty winds and low relative humidity would produce critical fire weather conditions.
