A hot and windy day is bringing elevated fire danger across western South Dakota and the surrounding region.
Forecasters say temperatures will climb into the lower to mid-90s on Tuesday, especially from Rapid City out onto the Plains. At the same time, humidity levels are expected to drop to around 20 percent or lower, while wind gusts could exceed 40 miles per hour—creating critical fire weather conditions.
Overnight temperatures will remain mild, generally in the upper 50s to low 60s, with slightly cooler readings in parts of northeastern Wyoming.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible in the Bighorn Mountains, but most areas will stay hot, dry, and breezy through midweek. Cooler temperatures are expected in northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana.
Looking ahead, moisture will gradually increase as winds shift out of the southeast. A low-pressure system moving into the region could bring more widespread thunderstorms by Saturday, with some storms potentially turning strong.
Meteorologists say storm chances will remain into the weekend and early next week, offering some relief from the heat but also bringing the possibility of severe weather.
Residents are urged to use caution due to the elevated fire risk and stay weather-aware as conditions change later this week.
