Story
Winds Whip Up Fires and Dust on the Southern Plains
Key takeaway
Dangerous winds whipped up fast-spreading fires and dust storms across the Southern Plains, putting residents at risk from these extreme natural hazards driven by the region's dry conditions.
Quick Explainer
High winds fueled fast-spreading wildfires across the southern Plains in February 2026, burning tens of thousands of acres in Oklahoma and Kansas. The winds also caused dangerous dust storms that contributed to a deadly vehicle pileup in Colorado.