FNUS63 KABR 160622 RFDABR Rangeland Fire Danger Statement National Weather Service Aberdeen SD 122 AM CDT Thu Apr 16 2026 .DISCUSSION... Temperatures today top out about 15 to 30 degrees above normal (70s to mid 80s). Winds shifting from south to southwest at 25 to 35 mph and afternoon humidity down to 15 to 30%, lowest in central South Dakota. Red Flag warning in effect for most of the area late morning through late afternoon. High/Very High Grassland Fire Danger as well. We cant rule out some dry thunderstorm type activity in central South Dakota with deep mixing. May not even be thunder, however these could produce locally erratic winds. Main timeframe of concern is between 5 and 9 pm. Late in the day and through the overnight, a front will move across the state, with a wind shift to the north/northwest and winds increasing to up around 35 to 40 mph through the overnight into the day Friday. Any fires ongoing late Thursday will experience a sudden shift in track and may increase in speed. MNZ039-046-SDZ005>008-010-011-016>023-033>037-045-048-051-162030- Traverse-Big Stone-McPherson-Brown-Marshall-Roberts-Edmunds-Day- Potter-Faulk-Spink-Clark-Codington-Grant-Hamlin-Deuel-Stanley-Sully- Hughes-Hyde-Hand-Jones-Lyman-Buffalo- Including the cities of Wheaton, Ortonville, Eureka, Aberdeen, Britton, Sisseton, Ipswich, Webster, Gettysburg, Faulkton, Redfield, Clark, Watertown, Milbank, Hayti, Clear Lake, Fort Pierre, Onida, Pierre, Highmore, Miller, Murdo, Kennebec, and Fort Thompson 122 AM CDT Thu Apr 16 2026 /1222 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026/ ...VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER... Very poor weather conditions and very low moisture content of grasses, and other dry organic material on the ground, indicate that dangerous burning conditions exist. Fires will spread rapidly and show erratic behavior. Outdoor burning is not recommended. The outlook for Friday afternoon...The grassland fire danger index will reach the high category. $$ SDZ003-004-009-015-162030- Corson-Campbell-Walworth-Dewey- Including the cities of McIntosh, Herreid, Mobridge, and Isabel 122 AM CDT Thu Apr 16 2026 /1222 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026/ ...HIGH FIRE DANGER... Unfavorable weather conditions and low moisture content of grasses, and other dry organic material on the ground, indicate that there is high potential for a fire to spread. Outdoor burning should be restricted to early morning or evening hours when wind speeds are usually lower and the relative humidity is higher. The outlook for Friday afternoon...The grassland fire danger index will reach the high category. $$ 07