Weather Story

Fire Weather Watch Monday

Elevated Fire Weather Concerns Monday

Elevated Fire Weather Concerns Wednesday

Upcoming Rain Chances

A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for parts of northeastern South Dakota and western Minnesota Monday afternoon. Dry conditions and strong wind gusts combine to create the potential for critical fire weather conditions.

Afternoon humidity will drop to between 20 and 25 percent across northeastern South Dakota and western Minnesota due to above normal temperatures, with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s over that area. Southerly wind gusts are expected to reach 20 to 30 miles per hour at the time of these low humidity values, creating the potential for critical fire weather conditions.

Dry and windy conditions return Wednesday afternoon, with southerly wind gusts reaching 35 to 45 miles per hour across much of the area in the afternoon. The dry and windy combination leads to Very High to possible Extreme Grassland Fire Danger over the forecast area.

Multiple rounds of rain are expected mid-week this week. While there is still a lot of time for things to change, the best chances to see a quarter of an inch of liquid through Thursday are currently located over north central South Dakota, between 50 and 60 percent.