Hazardous weather across Nebraska this week

Almost the entire cornhusker state will be in a Fire Weather Watch Tuesday. 

February 16, 2026Updated: February 16, 2026
By Sara McKenna

NEBRASKA—  Almost the entire cornhusker state will be in a Fire Weather Watch Tuesday. 

A Fire Weather Watch will be in effect Tuesday due to high winds and low humidity. The only Nebraska counties excluded from the watch are Cedar, Dakota, Dixon and Knox.

According to the National Weather Service the humidity across Nebraska will drop to 10%-30%. Winds are expected to gust around 40 mph in the central part of the state and around 50 mph in the southeastern areas, according to the NWS.

Places like McCook are expected to see wind gusts as high as 52 mph and humidity as low as 10%. 

The NWS warns that these conditions will allow fires to start easily and spread quickly. 

Banner, Kimball and Sioux counties are also under a High Wind Watch on Tuesday. 

Red Flag Warnings will be in effect Tuesday for Dundy, Hitchcock and Red Willow counties.

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