FNUS63 KUNR 161003 RFDUNR Rangeland Fire Danger Statement National Weather Service Rapid City SD 403 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026 .DISCUSSION...Very warm, dry, and breezy conditions are expected today ahead of a strong cold front. Highs will range from around 60 in northwestern SD to the low 80s across southwestern and south central SD. Humidities will drop to as low as 13 percent across southwestern and south central SD. West to southwesterly winds will pick up ahead of a cold front with sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph and gusts of 30 to 40 mph. SDZ027-030>032-041>044-046-047-049-074>077-170100- Southern Foothills-Custer Co Plains-Pennington Co Plains-Haakon- Western Fall River-Northern Oglala Lakota-Northern Jackson- Bennett-Mellette-Todd-Tripp-Hermosa Foothills-Eastern Fall River- Southern Oglala Lakota-Southern Jackson- Including the cities of Hot Springs, Angostura Reservoir, Folsom, Box Elder, Caputa, New Underwood, Wasta, Wall, Scenic, Quinn, Philip, Midland, Milesville, Ardmore, Edgemont, Provo, Rumford, Kyle, Rockyford, Sharps Corner, Kadoka, Cottonwood, Interior, Belvidere, Martin, Allen, Tuthill, Harrington, White River, Wood, Norris, Cedar Butte, Mission, Rosebud, Saint Francis, Parmelee, Winner, Colome, Witten, Hamill, Ideal, Hermosa, Buffalo Gap, Fairburn, Oral, Oelrichs, Smithwick, Pine Ridge, Oglala, Wounded Knee, Porcupine, Manderson, Batesland, Long Valley, Wanblee, and Potato Creek 403 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026 /503 AM CDT Thu Apr 16 2026/ ...VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER... The grassland fire danger index will reach the very high category this afternoon. 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 to very high category. $$ SDZ001-002-012>014-025-026-072-073-078-170100- Harding-Northern Perkins-Butte-Northern Meade Co Plains-Ziebach- Northern Foothills-Rapid City-Sturgis/Piedmont Foothills- Southern Meade Co Plains-Southern Perkins- Including the cities of Buffalo, Camp Crook, Ladner, Ludlow, Redig, Reva, Lemmon, Shadehill, Meadow, Prairie City, Belle Fourche, Newell, Vale, Fruitdale, Belle Fourche Reservoir, Hoover, Faith, Mud Butte, Red Owl, Howes, Opal, Dupree, Glad Valley, Cherry Creek, South Eagle Butte, Spearfish, Whitewood, Saint Onge, Rapid City, Sturgis, Piedmont, Black Hawk, Summerset, Tilford, Ellsworth AFB, Union Center, Elm Springs, Enning, White Owl, Usta, Bison, Sorum, and Zeona 403 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026 ...HIGH FIRE DANGER... The grassland fire danger index will reach the high category this afternoon. Unfavorable weather conditions and low moisture content of grasses, and other dry organic material on the ground, indicate that there is high potential for a fire to spread. Outdoor burning should be restricted to early morning or evening hours when wind speeds are usually lower and the relative humidity is higher. The outlook for Friday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index will reach the high category to very high category. $$