Grassland Fire Danger Statement from NWS Sioux Falls

Grassland Fire Danger Statement

Statewide Grassland Fire Danger maps are also available for the states of South Dakota and Iowa.
Please take note of the legend beneath the maps for the color scheme.

Note: The Grassland Fire Danger statement will be issued daily from April 1st to November 15th, or as conditions warrant during the Spring and late Autumn. It will also be issued during the winter months if the index reaches High, Very High or Extreme. Please check the date on the map and the text product below to ensure you are looking at a current product.

Check the text product beneath the maps for detailed Fire Danger information.

Key for Fire Danger Maps:

	Low - Green
	Moderate - Blue
	High - Yellow

	Very High - Orange
	Extreme - Red

    
                        

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FNUS63 KFSD 031937

RFDFSD



Rangeland Fire Danger Statement

National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD

237 PM CDT Fri Oct 3 2025



.DISCUSSION...

Issued at 231 PM CDT Fri Oct 3 2025



Gusty southerly winds today and Saturday will bring some fire

weather concerns to the area as we head into the first weekend

of October. Today will see winds gusting 20-30 MPH in most areas

by this afternoon, with some higher gusts near 35 MPH west of

the James River Valley. Well above normal temperatures

approaching 90F this afternoon modest humidity levels (as low as

30-40%) will generally lead to Moderate to High Grassland Fire

Danger. However, fully cured crops and/or grasses could see

localized Very High fire danger conditions and caution is

advised when working in these drier areas.



Saturday brings greater concerns as the south-southwest winds

strengthen further. Late morning to early evening gusts of 35 to 45

MPH will be more common, with humidity levels falling as low as 25

to 35 percent (perhaps lower if mixing is even more efficient). This

will lead to more widespread High to Very High Grassland Fire Danger

in the greener grasses. However, the drier grasses and especially

crops would be susceptible to rapid fire spread (localized Red Flag

conditions possible), as marginal humidity levels could easily be

overcome by the stronger winds currently forecast. With this in

mind, farmers and others working outdoors will need to be mindful of

their equipment usage to avoid sparking a fire in the dry fuels.

Next week provides dry conditions and much cooler temperatures with

much less dangerous harvesting conditions.



People are urged to exercise extreme care with respect to outdoor

activities that could cause grass fires. Avoid equipment that can

cause sparks near dry grass or brush. Do not toss cigarettes on

the ground. Report new fires quickly to the nearest fire

department or law enforcement office.



IAZ001>003-012>014-022-SDZ050-055>071-032245-

Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O`Brien-Clay-Buena Vista-Gregory-

Lake-Moody-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook-Minnehaha-

Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Turner-Lincoln-Bon Homme-Yankton-

Union-



OUTLOOK FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON...The Grassland Fire Danger Index

will reach the very high category.



The grassland fire danger product reflects fire danger for native

grasses. It is not intended for cured agricultural crops, nor

will it reflect conditions in road ditches which have been mowed.





$$



IAZ020-021-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-098-NEZ013-014-

SDZ038>040-052>054-032245-

Plymouth-Cherokee-Woodbury-Ida-Lincoln-Lyon-Murray-Cottonwood-

Nobles-Jackson-Pipestone-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Beadle-Kingsbury-

Brookings-Jerauld-Sanborn-Miner-



OUTLOOK FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON...The Grassland Fire Danger Index

will reach the high category.



The grassland fire danger product reflects fire danger for native

grasses. It is not intended for cured agricultural crops, nor

will it reflect conditions in road ditches which have been mowed.





$$