Red Flag Warning
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
229 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026
...Critical Fire Weather Conditions Continue This Afternoon...
.Strong and gusty west winds combined with very low relative
humidity and cured fuels are resulting in conditions conducive
for rapid fire growth.
IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-
081>086-092>097-190100-
/O.CON.KDMX.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260219T0100Z/
Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo-
Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-Calhoun-
Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Crawford-Carroll-Greene-
Boone-Story-Marshall-Tama-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Jasper-
Poweshiek-Cass-Adair-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Adams-Union-
Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne-
Appanoose-Davis-
229 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR ALL OF CENTRAL IOWA...
* AFFECTED AREA...All of central Iowa.
* WIND...West wind 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
* HUMIDITY...Minimum relative humidity values of 15 to 25%.
* IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
$$
For more information from the National Weather Service visit https://weather.gov/desmoines
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
203 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026
...Critical Fire Weather Conditions Continue...
IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-190200-
/O.CON.KDVN.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260219T0200Z/
Buchanan-Delaware-Dubuque-Benton-Linn-Jones-Jackson-Iowa-Johnson-
Cedar-Clinton-Muscatine-Scott-Keokuk-Washington-Louisa-Jefferson-
Henry IA-Des Moines-Van Buren-Lee-Jo Daviess-Stephenson-Carroll-
Whiteside-Rock Island-Henry IL-Bureau-Putnam-Mercer-Henderson-
Warren-Hancock-McDonough-Scotland-Clark-
203 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR CRITICAL FIRE DANGER...
* AFFECTED AREA...Portions of eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois,
and northeast Missouri.
* TIMING...Until 8 PM CST this evening.
* WINDS...West-southwest winds 25 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 50
mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will quickly spread out of
control. Fire behavior is expected to be extreme. Outdoor
burning should be avoided.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
$$
Gross
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
116 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026
MOZ005>008-015-016-190100-
/O.CON.KEAX.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260219T0100Z/
Harrison-Mercer-Putnam-Schuyler-Grundy-Sullivan-
116 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR NORTHERN MISSOURI...
* AFFECTED AREA...In Missouri, Fire Weather Zones 005, 006, 007,
008, 015 and 016.
* TIMING...Until 7 PM CST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread
quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
* WIND...Gusty westerly winds up to 30 mph.
* HUMIDITY...Relative humidity values falling between 15 and 20%
Wednesday afternoon.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
$$
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
1208 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026
IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ089-090-098-NEZ013-014-
SDZ050-057>071-190000-
/O.CON.KFSD.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260219T0000Z/
Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O`Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee-
Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Nobles-Jackson-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Gregory-
Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook-Minnehaha-Charles Mix-Douglas-
Hutchinson-Turner-Lincoln-Bon Homme-Yankton-Union-
1208 PM CST Wed Feb 18 2026
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR AREAS ALONG AND SOUTH OF
INTERSTATE-90...
* AFFECTED AREA...In Iowa, Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Sioux,
O`Brien, Clay, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Woodbury and
Ida. In Minnesota, Nobles, Jackson and Rock. In Nebraska,
Dixon and Dakota. In South Dakota, Gregory, Brule, Aurora,
Davison, Hanson, McCook, Minnehaha, Charles Mix, Douglas,
Hutchinson, Turner, Lincoln, Bon Homme, Yankton, Clay and
Union.
* WINDS...West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 20 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread
quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
$$
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
903 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026
...Critical fire weather conditions likely for northeast Iowa
today...
.The combination of strong winds and very dry conditions are
favored to lead to critical fire weather conditions in northeast
Iowa today, particularly in areas dominated by tall grasses.
While shorter grasses and shrubs may remain damp due to recent
melt of snowpack atop still frozen deeper soils, tall grasses may
have dried enough to become receptive to ignition and rapid
spread.
IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-190100-
/O.CON.KARX.FW.W.0001.260218T1800Z-260219T0100Z/
Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-
Clayton-
903 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR NORTHEAST IOWA...
* AFFECTED AREA...In Iowa, Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek,
Allamakee, Floyd, Chickasaw, Fayette and Clayton.
* TIMING...Until 7 PM CST this evening.
* WINDS...West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 percent.
* TEMPERATURES...Up to 56.
* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread
quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
$$
APF
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
950 PM CST Tue Feb 17 2026
IAZ043-055-056-069-080-NEZ012-015-034-045-190000-
/O.CON.KOAX.FW.W.0002.260218T1500Z-260219T0000Z/
Monona-Harrison-Shelby-Pottawattamie-Montgomery-Cedar-Thurston-
Burt-Washington-
950 PM CST Tue Feb 17 2026
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 6 PM CST
WEDNESDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR MUCH OF IOWA
INTO NORTHEAST NEBRASKA...
* AFFECTED AREA...Cedar, Thurston, Burt, Monona, Washington,
Harrison, Shelby, Pottawattamie, and Montgomery Counties.
* TIMING...From 9 AM to 6 PM CST Wednesday.
* WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
$$
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
950 PM CST Tue Feb 17 2026
NEZ011-017-018-032-033-044-190000-
/O.CAN.KOAX.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260218T0400Z/
/O.CON.KOAX.FW.W.0002.260218T1500Z-260219T0000Z/
Knox-Pierce-Wayne-Stanton-Cuming-Dodge-
950 PM CST Tue Feb 17 2026
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 6 PM CST
WEDNESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR MUCH OF
EASTERN AND CENTRAL NEBRASKA...
...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR MUCH OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL NEBRASKA...
The National Weather Service in Omaha/Valley has cancelled the
Red Flag Warning.
* AFFECTED AREA...Knox, Pierce, Wayne, Stanton, Cuming, and
Dodge Counties.
* TIMING...From 9 AM to 6 PM CST Wednesday.
* WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
&&
$$
