Hazardous Weather Outlook for the Plains of South Dakota

   Rapid City, SD – The Nation Weather Service has issued a Hazardous weather outlook for the plains of South Dakota. Very windy conditions
are expected Wednesday into Thursday as a strong low pressure system
slowly moves across the region. Northwesterly winds
of 30 to 45 mph and gusts to 65 mph are likely late Wednesday morning
and afternoon across South Dakota. The strongest winds are expected
across the Northwest and just east of the Black Hills.

With this predicted wind event and the expected lower relative humidity
across the state fire danger is expected to be in the extreme fire
category with critical fire weather conditions. South Dakota Wildland
Fire wants to remind residents and visitors that
fuels are extremely dry. Jim Strain, Chief Fire Management Officer,
stated "If a wildland fire should get started under these conditions,
the fire will move very quickly." Strain went on to say "we will have
all of our resources on hand and ready to respond
on a moment’s notice, as will other fire departments across the state."

South Dakota Wildland Fire wants to remind residents who have a campfire
permits in the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection that when the fire
danger is in the high, very high or extreme category the permit is
suspended until the fire danger is lowered.