Weather Warnings for Nebraska

Issued by the National Weather Service

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Nebraska
Alerts Updated: March 21, 2026, 4:42 pm  UTC


Red Flag Warning issued March 21 at 10:42AM MDT until March 21 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY

Summary: * AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zone 417, 418, 419, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, and 437. * WIND...Sustained winds 15 to 25 mph, gusting up to 35 mph. * HUMIDITY...5 to 10 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Poor overnight humidity recoveries are expected early Saturday morning. Well above average temperatures are also expected which will contribute considerably to the dry conditions.
Severity:  Severe    Effective:  March 21, 2026, 10:42 am      Expires:  March 21, 2026, 8:00 pm
Area:  Pine Ridge/Nebraska National Forest; Box Butte/South Sioux/Niobrara River; Lower North Platte River Basin/Scottsbluff National Monument; Lodgepole Creek/Southern Nebraska Panhandle; Niobrara/Lower Elevations of Converse/Thunder Basin National Grassland; Middle North Platte River Basin/Niobrara and Converse High Plains; North Laramie Range and Adjacent High Plains; Laramie Foothills and High Plains; Laramie East High Plains; Bordeaux/Chugwater/Wheatland; Goshen/Middle-Lower North Platte River Basin


Red Flag Warning issued March 21 at 10:58AM CDT until March 21 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD

Summary: * AFFECTED AREA...In Iowa, Plymouth, Woodbury and Ida. In Nebraska, Dixon and Dakota. In South Dakota, Gregory, Charles Mix, Bon Homme, Yankton, Clay and Union. * WINDS...West 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 13 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
Severity:  Severe    Effective:  March 21, 2026, 10:58 am      Expires:  March 21, 2026, 9:00 pm
Area:  Plymouth; Woodbury; Ida; Dixon; Dakota; Gregory; Charles Mix; Bon Homme; Yankton; Clay; Union


Red Flag Warning issued March 21 at 9:20AM CDT until March 22 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Hastings NE

Summary: ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY INTO TONIGHT... * WINDS...This afternoon into this evening, out of the south to southwest, sustained 10 to 20 MPH and gusting up to around 25 to 30 MPH. Then after midnight tonight into early Sunday morning, abruptly turning northerly behind a strong cold front and gusting at least 40 to 50 MPH. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 5 to 10 percent this afternoon, remaining under 20 to 25 percent through much of this evening, then eventually increasing to 30 to 50 percent by the time the Warning expires early Sunday morning. * IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Although winds this afternoon and evening will not be overly-strong, record-breaking heat and unusually- low relative humidity will still promote dangerous fire weather conditions. Adding to the concern, any fires that might start today will then be subject to a sharp/abrupt shift to strong north winds early Sunday morning behind a surging cold front. Please note that these strong north winds will not reach counties along and south of the Kansas border until after this Warning expires.
Severity:  Severe    Effective:  March 21, 2026, 9:20 am      Expires:  March 21, 2026, 9:00 pm
Area:  Phillips; Smith; Jewell; Rooks; Osborne; Mitchell; Valley; Greeley; Nance; Sherman; Howard; Merrick; Polk; Dawson; Buffalo; Hall; Hamilton; York; Gosper; Phelps; Kearney; Adams; Clay; Fillmore; Furnas; Harlan; Franklin; Webster; Nuckolls; Thayer


Red Flag Warning issued March 21 at 8:17AM MDT until March 22 at 3:00AM MDT by NWS Goodland KS

Summary: Persistently dry conditions and southwesterly wind gusts up to 30 mph are forecast along with record high temperatures. Strongest winds are forecast from around 1pm-6pm central time. A brief lull in the wind is forecast in the early evening before increasing again during the late evening. Towards the latter part of the warning, a cold front shifting the winds to the north with wind gusts around 45 mph is forecast to move through, this could reinvigorate any smolder fires. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 001 Cheyenne KS, 002 Rawlins, 003 Decatur, 004 Norton, 013 Sherman, 014 Thomas, 015 Sheridan, 016 Graham, 027 Wallace, 028 Logan, 029 Gove, 041 Greeley, 042 Wichita, 079 Dundy, 080 Hitchcock and 081 Red Willow. * TIMING...Until 3 AM MDT /4 AM CDT/ Sunday. * WINDS...Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 5 percent. * IMPACTS...Unpredictable fire behavior. Any fires that develop may rapidly grow and spread out of control.
Severity:  Severe    Effective:  March 21, 2026, 8:17 am      Expires:  March 22, 2026, 3:00 am
Area:  Cheyenne; Rawlins; Decatur; Norton; Sherman; Thomas; Sheridan; Graham; Wallace; Logan; Gove; Greeley; Wichita; Dundy; Hitchcock; Red Willow


Red Flag Warning issued March 21 at 2:59AM CDT until March 22 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS North Platte NE

Summary: ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS... .Record high temperatures Saturday in the 90s will lead to single digit relative humidity Saturday afternoon across the area. Low relative humidity will combine with gusty westerly winds to 35 MPH Saturday afternoon, producing critical fire weather conditions. An abrupt change in wind direction to the north will commence late Saturday evening across northern Nebraska, transitioning south into the overnight. Winds with this shift in wind direction will reach up to 45 MPH overnight. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, 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...Red Flag Warning in effect from 10 AM CDT (9 AM MDT) Saturday through 4 AM CDT (3 AM MDT) Sunday morning. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 6 percent. * TEMPERATURES...Up to 96. * LIGHTNING...None expected. * IMPACTS...Any fire starts will spread rapidly and will be difficult to control. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A cold front will arrive from the north late Saturday evening, producing an abrupt wind shift and gusts up to 45 mph during the late evening and overnight hours.
Severity:  Severe    Effective:  March 21, 2026, 2:59 am      Expires:  March 22, 2026, 4:00 am
Area:  Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR; Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest; Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie National Forest; Loup Rivers Basin; Frenchman Basin; Loess Plains


Red Flag Warning issued March 21 at 12:42AM CDT until March 22 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE

Summary: * AFFECTED AREA...Knox, Cedar, Thurston, Antelope, Pierce, Wayne, Boone, Madison, Stanton, Cuming, Burt, Platte, Monona, Colfax, Dodge, Washington, Butler, Saunders, Douglas, Sarpy, Harrison, Shelby, Seward, Lancaster, Cass, Otoe, Pottawattamie, Saline, Mills, Montgomery, Jefferson, Gage, Fremont, Johnson, Page, Nemaha, Pawnee, and Richardson Counties. * TIMING...From 11 AM this morning to 4 AM CDT Sunday. * WINDS...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
Severity:  Severe    Effective:  March 21, 2026, 12:42 am      Expires:  March 21, 2026, 4:45 pm
Area:  Monona; Harrison; Shelby; Pottawattamie; Mills; Montgomery; Fremont; Page; Knox; Cedar; Thurston; Antelope; Pierce; Wayne; Boone; Madison; Stanton; Cuming; Burt; Platte; Colfax; Dodge; Washington; Butler; Saunders; Douglas; Sarpy; Seward; Lancaster; Cass; Otoe; Saline; Jefferson; Gage; Johnson; Nemaha; Pawnee; Richardson


Air Quality Alert issued March 20 at 1:23PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE

Summary: The following is transmitted in collaboration with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy... WHAT...Air Quality Alert WHERE...Southeastern Nebraska WHEN... 03/21/2026 8:00 PM until 03/22/2026 9:00 AM POLLUTANT...PM 2.5 particulates AIR QUALITY INDEX...Moderate to periodic Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups ADDITIONAL DETAILS... An alert for possible Moderate (Air Quality Index yellow category) to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups AQI (Air Quality Index orange category) due to smoke has been issued for the following Nebraska counties: Butler, Cass, Dodge, Douglas, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward, and Washington, from March 21, 8:00 pm through March 21, 9:00 am. During Moderate (AQI yellow category) conditions, those who are unusually sensitive to particle pollution may experience health effects, and are advised to minimize prolonged or heavy exertion. Symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath are signs to take it easier. During Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange category) conditions, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children/teens, pregnant women, and those who are active outdoors. Members of sensitive groups are advised to minimize prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors and take more breaks. Smoke from prescribed burning may affect the air quality in Nebraska. Smoke levels and wind directions are monitored by Nebraska and other states to predict when impacts to the air quality may occur. Information regarding prescribed burning impacts is available from the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) at https://dee.nebraska.gov/smoke-and-air-quality. Alerts are based on data available from weather forecasts, smoke plume modeling, satellite imagery, and from air quality monitors located in Omaha, Bellevue, Blair, Lincoln, Beatrice, Grand Island, and Scottsbluff. Advisories for smoke and air quality are issued for affected areas by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) and posted on agency webpages and social media sites. By notifying the media and local health departments, alerts help citizens protect their health by informing them of days where outdoor activities should be reduced or avoided to minimize exposure to smoke.
Severity:  Unknown    Effective:  March 20, 2026, 1:23 pm      Expires:  March 22, 2026, 9:00 am
Area:  Dodge; Washington; Butler; Saunders; Douglas; Sarpy; Seward; Lancaster; Cass; Otoe; Saline; Jefferson; Gage; Johnson; Nemaha; Pawnee; Richardson


The Fire Weather Watch has been replaced. Please see the latest information from NWS North Platte NE on this developing situation.

Summary: The Fire Weather Watch has been replaced. Please see the latest information from NWS North Platte NE on this developing situation.
Severity:  Severe    Effective:  March 20, 2026, 8:27 am      Expires:  March 20, 2026, 8:42 am
Area:  Eastern Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR; Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest; Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie National Forest; Loup Rivers Basin; Frenchman Basin; Loess Plains