South Dakota, , Wyoming Fire Weather Watch | Effective 05/10/2026 00:57

...HOT, DRY, AND BREEZY WEEK AHEAD, WITH NEAR CRITICAL TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS BEGINNING MONDAY... .A near-critical to critical fire weather pattern is forecast to develop across western South Dakota starting Monday, and continue through much of the week. The most critical days at this time appear to be Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. A Fire Weather Watch is being issued for Monday...the first day of this pattern...due to a combination of hot afternoon temperatures of 85 to 95 degrees, low minimum afternoon relative humidities of 12 to 18 percent, and winds gusting as high as 35 to 40 MPH with a sudden wind shift from south to northwest during the afternoon due to passage of a dry cold front. In this environment, any new fires could spread rapidly and be difficult to control. The National Weather Service in Rapid City has issued a Fire Weather Watch for gusty winds and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Monday morning through Monday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 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...South southwest 15 to 25 MPH with gusts up to 35 MPH, then switching to northwest 15 to 25 MPH with gusts up 40 MPH. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 12 percent. * IMPACTS...The combination of hot temperatures, gusty winds, and low relative humidity would produce critical fire weather conditions. In addition, a dry cold front will cross the region from northwest to southeast between 2 PM and 8 PM Monday, resulting in a sudden wind shift from south to northwest and an increase in wind gusts. In this environment, any new fires could spread rapidly and be difficult to control.