Red Flag Warning Issued for Bighorn Basin and Owl Creek Mountains

A Red Flag Warning has been issued for portions of the North Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM, Cody Foothills, South Bighorn Basin/Worland BLM, South Bighorn Mountains, and Owl Creek Mountains. The National Weather Service in Riverton issued the warning effective from noon today, October 9, 2026, until 7:00 PM MDT this evening, October 9, 2026.

Residents in affected areas should exercise extreme caution due to critical fire weather conditions. These conditions include low humidities (as low as 8 to 13 percent), unseasonably warm temperatures (lower to mid 80s), and strong gusty winds from the southwest at 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph. These factors can contribute to erratic fire behavior.

Counties affected include Fremont and Natrona in Central Wyoming, and Big Horn, Hot Springs, Johnson, Park, and Washakie in North Central Wyoming. The Red Flag Warning signifies that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are expected shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Avoid any activities that could spark a wildfire.