NWS Sioux Falls Fire Weather

Click HERE for background on how the National Weather Service interacts with other federal agencies in fire suppression and how we prepare and issue Fire Weather Forecasts.

Click HERE for a guide on what to expect in regard to specific burning conditions for the Grassland Fire Danger categories & Red Flag Warning.

County Burn Restrictions and/or Bans: Minnesota Iowa

* SUBMIT A SPOT FORECAST *

Submit a Spot Forecast Using the Spot Request Page
- A tutorial for the NWS Spot Page courtesy NWS Duluth

Current Fire Weather Forecasts

Click the links for your area immediately below the map
to view the Fire Weather Narrative Forecast for your area.
Map showing fire weather zone numbers for the NWS Sioux Falls forecast area. A list of these zone numbers and links to the zone forecast are available below the map.

SDZ255 - Lower Brule/Lake Andes [] SDZ256 - Middle James Valley [] SDZ257 - Middle Big Sioux Valley
SDZ258 - Lower James/Lower Big Sioux Valleys [] NEZ249 - Extreme Northeast Nebraska

MNZ071 - Lincoln County MN [] MNZ072 - Lyon County MN
MNZ097 - Pipestone County MN [] MNZ080 - Murray County MN [] MNZ081 - Cottonwood County MN
MNZ098 - Rock County MN [] MNZ089 - Nobles County MN [] MNZ090 - Jackson County MN

IAZ001 - Lyon County IA [] IAZ002 - Osceola County IA [] IAZ003 - Dickinson County IA
IAZ012 - Sioux County IA [] IAZ013 - O'Brien County IA [] IAZ014 - Clay County IA
IAZ020 - Plymouth County IA [] IAZ021 - Cherokee County IA [] IAZ022 - Buena Vista County IA
IAZ031 - Woodbury County IA [] IAZ032 - Ida County IA

Products from NWS Sioux Falls, and state grassland maps for Iowa and SD

(for important specifics on these products, see the explanations section below)

Fire Weather Forecast (Issued twice per day from April 1st to May 31st, and August 15th to November 15th. Morning issuance only from June 1st to August 14th.)
Grassland Fire Danger (Statement and map issued daily from April 1st to November 15th and as needed during the winter months when the index reaches high, very high and extreme).
Fire Wx Watch or Red Flag Warning (will be issued when red flag criteria are probable, met or exceeded in the Sioux Falls forecast area for anytime of the year).
State of South Dakota Grassland Fire Danger Map (from NWS Rapid City)
State of Iowa Grassland Fire Danger Map (from NWS Des Moines)

Note: Through interagency agreement, the dates listed above for the Fire Weather Forecast can be altered in times of persistent dry or wet conditions.

Interactive Forecast Graphics from Sioux Falls

One Hourly interactive grid point forecast data (both graphical and tabular)
- Weather Activity Planner - Input the data you need for your activity, and the planner will let you know when those conditions are forecast for your location within the next 7 days. This is NOT a substitute for an official Spot Burn Forecast.
Graphical Forecast Output (for the entire Sioux Falls forecast area)

Fire Weather from other NWS Offices, including Planning Forecasts

Products from the SPC

Fire Weather Outlooks

Weather and Climate Data

Area Fire Coordination Centers and Area Annual Operating Plans

Eastern Area Coordination Center (includes Minnesota and Iowa)
- 2020 Minnesota Fire Weather Annual Operating Plan
- 2020 Iowa Fire Weather Annual Operating Plan
Rocky Mountain Coordination Center (includes Nebraska and South Dakota)
- 2019 Rocky Mountain Area Fire Weather Operating Plan

WFAS Data

USA RAWS Climate Archive

(for current and old RAWS data from any state)

MESOWEST via WRCC

Active Fire Maps

Map of Active United States Fires
Map of Active Canadian Fires
Map of Alaska Fires
Hazard Mapping System Fire and Smoke Product (displays locations of fires and significant smoke plumes detected by satellites)

Drought and Hazards Assessment Products

(for important specifics on these products, see the explanations section below)

Hazards - Days 3-7
Hazards - Days 8-14
Seasonal Drought Forecast - updated monthly
Drought Monitor - updated Thursdays
Palmer Drought Index - updated Mondays
Keetch-Byram Drought Index
Crop Moisture Index (short-term crop need vs. available water in 5 ft soil profile)

Explanations for some common Local and National Fire Weather Elements/Drought Indices

Rangeland Fire Danger and Red Flag Warnings

Haines Index

NFDRS

Fuel Moisture

Drought Monitor

Greeness Maps

Palmer Drought Index

Keetch-Byram Drought Index

Crop Moisture Index