Headline:
Fire Weather Watch issued March 19 at 3:08AM CDT until March 22 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Event:
Fire Weather Watch
Urgency:
Future
Effective:
March 19, 2026 - 1:08am
Expires:
March 19, 2026 - 1:00pm
Description:
The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a Fire
Weather Watch for record heat, critically low humidity, gusty west
afternoon winds, and increasing north winds behind a sharp front
late, which is in effect from Saturday morning through late
Saturday night.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 206 Sandhills/Valentine
NWR/Nebraska National Forest, Fire Weather Zone 208 Niobrara
Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie National Forest,
Fire Weather Zone 209 Loup Rivers Basin, Fire Weather Zone 210
Frenchman Basin and Fire Weather Zone 219 Loess Plains.
* TIMING...Saturday morning through late Saturday night.
* WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts around 25 mph, increasing
up to 45 mph out of the north late behind a passing front.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Falling to 10 to 15 percent range.
* TEMPERATURES...Upper 80s to middle 90s.
* LIGHTNING...None expected.
* IMPACTS...Any fire starts will have a high potential to spread
rapidly and will be difficult to control.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A sharp frontal boundary will arrive from
the north late in the day Saturday, producing an abrupt wind
shift and gusts up to 45 mph during the evening and overnight
hours.
Instruction:
A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.
Area Description:
Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest; Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie National Forest; Loup Rivers Basin; Frenchman Basin; Loess Plains
Forcast Office:
NWS North Platte NE
Sender:
w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov