Key facts
- Alert
- Red Flag Warning (severe)
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Billings MT
- Areas
- Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation/Ashland Ranger District Custer Natl Forest; Sioux Ranger District Custer National Forest; Sheridan County/Casper BLM
- In effect
- until 12:00 AM MDT, Oct 24, 2026
What the National Weather Service says
“A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly.”
NWS Billings MT, Red Flag Warning, 1:30 PM MDT Oct 23, 2026 · official alert
“The most dangerous conditions are expected along and southeast of a Baker Montana to Sheridan Wyoming line.”
NWS Billings MT, Red Flag Warning, 1:30 PM MDT Oct 23, 2026 · official alert
What to do
Do not burn outdoors while the warning is in effect. Avoid anything that can throw a spark, such as campfires, burning debris, or dragging chains from a vehicle.
Be careful with equipment and vehicles in dry grass. Strong, gusty winds can make a small fire grow quickly and make it hard to control.
Expect the wind to shift to the northwest after the cold front passes in the late afternoon into early evening. Gusts could stay strong into late Friday night.
Follow local evacuation orders immediately if a fire starts near you. Keep up with local fire officials and National Weather Service updates.
Context
The warning covers Big Horn, Carter, Fallon, Powder River, Rosebud and Treasure counties in Montana, Harding County in South Dakota, and Sheridan County in Wyoming.
FEMA records for some of the Montana counties include past wildfire declarations. Powder River County had one in 2012, and Rosebud County had wildfire declarations in 2012 and 2021. Flood insurance claims in these counties cover only insured properties, so they do not measure fire risk.
Updates
- The red flag warning is no longer in effect.
- The National Weather Service updated the red flag warning; it remains in effect until 12:00 AM MDT.
- The National Weather Service extended the red flag warning until 12:00 AM MDT.
- NWS Billings MT issued the red flag warning until 9:00 PM MDT.
History here
This county: 16 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2011.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4902 (2026): severe winter storm and straight-line winds
- DR-1996 (2011): severe storms and flooding
This county: 7 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2002.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4902 (2026): severe winter storm and straight-line winds
- DR-4437 (2019): flooding
- DR-4074 (2012): wildfire
- DR-1996 (2011): severe storms and flooding
- DR-1767 (2008): severe winter storm
This county: 12 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2019.
This county: recent federal disaster declarations
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Questions
- Is there a Red Flag Warning in southeast Montana?
- Yes. The National Weather Service in Billings issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of southeast Montana, in effect from noon to 9:00 PM MDT Friday.
- What conditions are expected during this Red Flag Warning?
- Southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph, humidity of 15 to 25 percent, and temperatures of 75 to 85 degrees. A cold front late in the afternoon will shift winds to the northwest.
- Where are the most dangerous fire conditions?
- The National Weather Service expects the most dangerous conditions along and southeast of a line from Baker, Montana to Sheridan, Wyoming.
Sources
- NWS Billings MT: Red Flag Warning, Oct 23, 2026 weather.gov
- FEMA OpenFEMA: NFIP claims and disaster declarations fema.gov
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