Red Flag Warning issues for parts of central Nebraska on April 3, (NWS Hastings, Courtesy)
LEXINGTON — A Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions has been issued for parts of central Nebraska for the afternoon and evening hours of Friday, April 3.
Despite the recent precipitation, the area remains under drought conditions and westerly winds will serve to lower relative humidity values.
Per the National Weather Service – Hastings, the warning was issued for areas roughly along a line from Lexington, to Alma down to Phillipsburg, Kan. The warning has been issued from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Nebraska counties under the warning include Dawson, Gosper, Furnas and Harlan.
While conditions this morning are cool and damp thanks to steady easterly low-level flow, this will change this afternoon as winds switch to the northwest and then the west and steadily increase with peak gusts around 25 to 35 mph.
This westerly flow will usher in drier air and allow for a decrease in cloud cover, warming temperatures and relative humidity falling into the teens and low 20s for areas along and especially west of Highway 183.
NWS Hastings notes this will be a relatively narrow window in time of the largest risk for critical fire weather conditions. However, those western areas received less precipitation and fire fuels will dry out easier this afternoon.
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.
