Warning for wildfires in the Black Hills due to weather conditions [Video]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) – The moody weather here in the Black Hills has led to an unusual pattern of warmth, increasing the fire danger this season.

South Dakota State Fire Meteorologist Darren Clabo says it has been and will continue to be extremely warm and dry in the Black Hills.

“The climate in Western South Dakota is characterized by variability; it’s natural for us to have these strings of warm days and cold days; we’ve just been stacking the warm days on top of more warm days, adding in a little bit of wind and some sunshine, and it really kind of sets the stage for a potentially bad fire spring,” said Clabo.

Although South Dakota is known for its varying weather, factors such as the combination of dryness, winds, and high temperatures have created the perfect environment for wildfires.

Clabo says he is extremely concerned about this year’s …