Expected

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THURSDAY FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO... A passing Pacific trough will keep the region dry and increase winds for Thursday. These warm, dry, and windy conditions will further trend fuels drier, and will set the stage for critical fire weather conditions across the southern New Mexico fire zones. West winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 to 40 mph are expected during the afternoon. Minimum relative humidity values

* WHAT...West winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...Ziebach County, including portions of the Cheyenne River Reservation, and Haakon. * WHEN...From 9 AM to 6 PM MDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Sudden wind gusts can cause drivers to lose control, especially in lightweight or high profile vehicles. Strong winds can cause blowing dust, reduced visibility, and flying debris. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

* WHAT...Northwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph expected. * WHERE...Butte, Harding, Northern Meade Co Plains, Northern Perkins, Southern Meade Co Plains, Southern Perkins, Sturgis/Piedmont Foothills, and Pennington Co Plains. * WHEN...From 9 AM to 6 PM MDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...The high winds may damage roofs, small outbuildings, and signs. Power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Strong winds can cause

* WHAT...West winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected. There will be a lull in the winds later tonight, but then the winds pick back up Thursday. * WHERE...Eastern Fall River, Southern Foothills, and Western Fall River. * WHEN...Until 6 PM MDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Sudden wind gusts can cause drivers to lose control, especially in lightweight or high profile vehicles. Strong winds can cause blowing dust, reduced visibility, and flying debris.

* WHAT...West winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. * WHERE...Northern Foothills, Custer Co Plains, Hermosa Foothills, and Rapid City. * WHEN...Until 3 AM MDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Sudden wind gusts can cause drivers to lose control, especially in lightweight or high profile vehicles. Strong winds can cause blowing dust, reduced visibility, and flying debris. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

At 930 PM CDT/830 PM MDT/, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from Strasburg to 7 miles north of Gettysburg to 7 miles north of Wood. Movement was northeast at 55 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... Pierre, Mobridge, Fort Pierre, Gettysburg, Eureka, Onida, Selby,

A period of strong west-southwest winds gusting up to 55 mph will continue in parts of northwest North Dakota late this evening. These strong winds are associated with showers and thunderstorms moving northward through northeast Montana. Areas of blowing dust have also been reported from Watford City to Williston, reducing visibility as low as one mile. The strong winds may cause difficult driving conditions, especially for high profile vehicles. The winds may also result in

At 933 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from Forest River Colony to Spirit Lake Nation. Movement was northeast at 40 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include... Devils Lake, Grafton, Park River, New Rockford, Larimore, Camp Grafton, and Lakota. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 061 Hamilton, Fire Weather Zone 074 Stanton, Fire Weather Zone 075 Grant, Fire Weather Zone 076 Haskell, Fire Weather Zone 084 Morton, Fire Weather Zone 085 Stevens, Fire Weather Zone 086 Seward, Fire Weather Zone 087 Meade, Fire Weather Zone 088 Clark and Fire Weather Zone 089 Comanche. * TIMING...From noon CDT /11 AM MDT/ to 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ Thursday. * WINDS...North 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 11 percent.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 215. * TIMING...Until midnight MDT tonight. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 11 percent. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire. 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