CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY ACROSS NORTHEAST WYOMING AND WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. . POTENTIAL CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST TO CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA. .Gusty south to southwest winds will increase this morning and continue through this afternoon and evening, which will bring much warmer and drier air to the region. Winds will increase to 10 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph. Even stronger winds are possible across south central South Dakota, with gusts up to 55 mph. Temperatures today will be near record-breaking for this time of year. Highs will generally be in the mid 70s to mid 80s across lower elevations. Minimum relative humidity will drop as low as 10 to 20 percent. These conditions will result in critical fire weather conditions this afternoon across the region. Gusty winds will continue tonight into Thursday afternoon, though not as strong across south central South Dakota. Overnight RH recovery will be poor to fair. A cold front will cross the area Thursday. Ahead of the front across southwest to central South Dakota, critical fire weather conditions are once again possible Thursday afternoon due to the winds combining with a relative humidity as low as 15 percent. The National Weather Service in Rapid City has issued a Fire Weather Watch for gusty winds and low relative humidity, which is in effect Thursday afternoon. * AFFECTED AREA. Fire Weather Zones 326 Pine Ridge Area, 331 Haakon County Area and 332 Badlands Area. * WINDS. Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph today and Thursday. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY. As low as 15 percent today and Thursday. * IMPACTS. The combination of gusty winds and low relative humidity would produce critical fire weather conditions.
