Dawson County Emergency Management

Dawson County Emergency Management Dawson County Emergency Management Agency is a government office to access and report and respond to

03/25/2026

NOTICE, Today is Tornado awareness day during severe weather awareness week in Nebraska. At 10:00 am. the outdoor warning sirens (tornado) will sound in Cozad, Lexington, Overton, Sumner, and Eddyville. I am sure they will sound in Gothenburg but Dawson County does not dispatch for them.

What are you going to do? What if this was not a test? Where would you go while at work or at home? Do you have a plan? Does your family and people you work with know the plan? Do you have a way to be notified if inside your home?, business? These are all things to be aware of as we want you to be prepared for the worst.

03/14/2026

Open Burn Ban 03-13-2026
Effective immediately the Governor has issued an Executive Order that bans the issuance of Open Burn Permits for 14 days. The Executive Order prohibits any fire chief or person designated by the fire chief from granting an open burn permit for any purpose. Any existing burn permit that has not been completed is null and void and open burning is not permitted for 14 consecutive days beginning now.
This order will be reviewed prior to its termination to determine the need to extend the ban. Further information will be provided prior to that date.
The Executive Order document will be issued later today when all required parties have signed it.
Please feel free to share this message as needed and contact me with any questions.
Thanks
Doug Hohbein
State Fire Marshal
Nebraska State Fire Marshal Agency
246 S. 14th St #1
Lincoln, NE 68508

03/14/2026

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 PM CDT SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Sustained north TO northwest winds of 30 to 45 mph with
gusts as high as 65 mph.

* WHERE...Portions of north central Kansas and central, east
central, and south central Nebraska.

* WHEN...From 3 AM to 9 PM CDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS...The high winds may damage trees and power lines. Power
outages are possible. Travel may be challenging, especially for
high profile vehicles.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Parts of south central Nebraska will
experience some light snow, which will result in briefly reduced
visibility, and some slick spots as temperatures drop below
freezing. Areas of blowing dust are likely as well, especially in
southwest Dawson County Nebraska downwind of the burn scar.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Secure outdoor objects today before the wind arrives. If you drive
Sunday, plan for the strong winds and use caution.

03/08/2026

CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON...

NEZ039-040-046-047-060>062-072>075-082>085-090100-
/O.NEW.KGID.FW.W.0006.260308T1907Z-260309T0100Z/
Valley-Greeley-Sherman-Howard-Dawson-Buffalo-Hall-Gosper-Phelps-
Kearney-Adams-Furnas-Harlan-Franklin-Webster-
207 PM CDT Sun Mar 8 2026
..RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA COUNTIES
ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 281...

The National Weather Service in Hastings has issued a Red Flag
Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect
until 8 PM CDT this evening.

* WINDS...Southwest 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10-15 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will spread quickly. Outdoor
burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

01/23/2026

1252 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026
..COLD WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON
CST MONDAY...

* WHAT...Very cold wind chills of 15 to 25 below expected.

* WHERE...Portions of north central Kansas and central, east
central, and south central Nebraska.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to noon CST Monday.

* IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero
could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Wind chills may remain below -10 degrees
through the daytime on Friday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a
hat, and gloves.

Make sure outdoor animals have a warm, dry shelter, food, and
unfrozen water.

01/16/2026

The National Weather Service in Hastings has issued a

* Snow Squall Warning for...
Northwestern Dawson County in south central Nebraska...

* Until 100 PM CST.

* At 1225 PM CST, a dangerous snow squall was located near Brady, or
23 miles east of North Platte, moving southeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Intense bursts of heavy snow. Gusty winds leading to
blowing snow and rapidly falling visibility. Wind gusts
greater than 50 mph could knock down tree limbs and blow
around unsecured objects.

SOURCE...Radar and webcams.

IMPACT...Travel will become difficult and potentially dangerous
within minutes.

This includes Interstate 80 between mile markers 209 and 226.

Locations impacted include...
Cozad, Gothenburg, and Willow Island.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow Down! Rapid changes in visibility and road conditions are
expected with this dangerous snow squall. Be alert for sudden
whiteout conditions.

Phillips-Rooks-Valley-Greeley-Sherman-Howard-Dawson-Buffalo-Hall-Gosper-Phelps-Kearney-Adams-Furnas-Harlan-Franklin-Incl...
01/15/2026

Phillips-Rooks-Valley-Greeley-Sherman-Howard-Dawson-Buffalo-Hall-
Gosper-Phelps-Kearney-Adams-Furnas-Harlan-Franklin-
Including the cities of Grand Island, Campbell, Lexington,
Holdrege, Greeley, Alma, Phillipsburg, Gothenburg, Sherman
Reservoir, Cozad, Oxford, Loup City, Scotia, Cambridge, Spalding,
Willow Island, Ord, Stockton, Minden, Hastings, Johnson Lake,
Beaver City, Elwood, Plainville, St. Paul, Codell, Litchfield,
Franklin, Kearney, Wolbach, Arapahoe, Hildreth, Orleans, and
Hollinger
1257 PM CST Thu Jan 15 2026
..HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM CST
FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Northwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph
possible.

* WHERE...Portions of north central Kansas and central and south
central Nebraska.

* WHEN...From 9 PM this evening to 6 PM CST Friday.

* IMPACTS...Strong winds could damage trees. Localized power outages
are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high
profile vehicles.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Light snow showers, combined with the winds,
may cause localized visibility reductions and additional travel
issues on Friday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use caution if you must drive.

Phillips-Smith-Rooks-Osborne-Valley-Sherman-Dawson-Buffalo-Gosper-Phelps-Kearney-Furnas-Harlan-Franklin-Including the ci...
01/06/2026

Phillips-Smith-Rooks-Osborne-Valley-Sherman-Dawson-Buffalo-Gosper-
Phelps-Kearney-Furnas-Harlan-Franklin-
Including the cities of Phillipsburg, Bellaire, Smith Center,
Kensington, Codell, Plainville, Stockton, Osborne, Downs, Ord,
Loup City, Sherman Reservoir, Litchfield, Lexington, Cozad,
Willow Island, Gothenburg, Kearney, Elwood, Johnson Lake,
Holdrege, Minden, Cambridge, Arapahoe, Oxford, Beaver City,
Hollinger, Alma, Orleans, Franklin, Campbell, and Hildreth
1057 AM CST Tue Jan 6 2026
..Solidly Near-Critical to Briefly-Critical Fire Weather
Conditions Likely This Afternoon...

Mainly between 1 and 5 PM, most south central/central Nebraska
and north central Kansas counties west of Highway 281 will likely
experience solidly near-critical fire weather conditions, due to
the combination of westerly winds gusting 20-30 MPH, and relative
humidity dropping to at least 20-25 percent. Briefly-critical
conditions cannot be ruled out, especially within our far western
counties such as Dawson, Gosper and Furnas in Nebraska...and Rooks
and Phillips in Kansas.

Due to the expectation that any outright-critical fire weather
thresholds are currently expected to be reached on a fairly
localized and brief basis, a formal fire weather Warning is not
anticipated at this time. However, caution is certainly advised
this afternoon if engaging in any activities that could
potentially spark a wildfire.

12/25/2025

DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON CST
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Fog is expected to spread west into the area after midnight
and linger into Christmas morning. Visibilities will be down to
one-quarter mile at times through mid-morning on Christmas before
improving. The fog will likely be more patchy in nature west of a
Cozad to Arapahoe line.

* WHERE...Dawson, Furnas, Gosper, Harlan, and Phelps Counties.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to noon CST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of
distance ahead of you.

12/17/2025

Phillips-Smith-Jewell-Rooks-Osborne-Mitchell-Valley-Greeley-Nance-
Sherman-Howard-Merrick-Polk-Dawson-Buffalo-Hall-Hamilton-York-
Gosper-Phelps-Kearney-Adams-Clay-Fillmore-Furnas-Harlan-Franklin-
Webster-Nuckolls-Thayer-
Including the cities of Sutton, Red Cloud, Ionia, Codell,
Stockton, Nelson, Jewell, Elwood, Bostwick, Aurora, Hebron,
Beaver City, Cambridge, Clay Center, St. Paul, Beloit,
Kensington, Blue Hill, Osborne, Downs, Loup City, Ord, Sherman
Reservoir, Gothenburg, Kearney, Holdrege, Orleans, Genoa,
Franklin, Superior, Oxford, Mankato, Johnson Lake, Hollinger,
Osceola, Grand Island, Exeter, Central City, Hastings, Edgar,
Inavale, Stromsburg, Phillipsburg, Spalding, Cozad, Willow
Island, Bladen, Plainville, Litchfield, Lexington, Fairfield,
Wolbach, Minden, Harvard, Campbell, Geneva, Rosemont, Scotia,
Alma, Smith Center, Fullerton, Bellaire, Greeley, York, Fairmont,
Arapahoe, Polk, Deshler, Shelby, Hildreth, and Burr Oak
322 AM CST Wed Dec 17 2025
..HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM CST THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Northwest winds 30 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph
expected.

* WHERE...Portions of north central Kansas and central, east
central, and south central Nebraska.

* WHEN...From 6 AM to 6 PM CST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Very strong winds could cause damage to trees. Localized
power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially
for high profile vehicles. Localized poor visibility in areas of
blowing dust.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Watch for blowing debris and falling tree limbs. Use caution if you
must drive. Be prepared for quickly changing visibility in areas of
blowing dust.

Phillips-Smith-Jewell-Rooks-Osborne-Mitchell-Valley-Greeley-Nance-Sherman-Howard-Merrick-Polk-Dawson-Buffalo-Hall-Hamilt...
12/16/2025

Phillips-Smith-Jewell-Rooks-Osborne-Mitchell-Valley-Greeley-Nance-
Sherman-Howard-Merrick-Polk-Dawson-Buffalo-Hall-Hamilton-York-
Gosper-Phelps-Kearney-Adams-Clay-Fillmore-Furnas-Harlan-Franklin-
Webster-Nuckolls-Thayer-
Including the cities of Nelson, Spalding, Stromsburg, Superior,
Willow Island, Inavale, Cozad, Lexington, Mankato, Osborne,
Hollinger, Harvard, Alma, Burr Oak, Geneva, Jewell, Franklin,
Elwood, Deshler, Sherman Reservoir, St. Paul, Osceola, Red Cloud,
Hebron, Arapahoe, Beloit, Loup City, Shelby, York, Minden, Genoa,
Clay Center, Kearney, Litchfield, Central City, Ord, Plainville,
Bladen, Bostwick, Downs, Gothenburg, Cambridge, Holdrege, Sutton,
Edgar, Hildreth, Grand Island, Smith Center, Phillipsburg,
Exeter, Codell, Beaver City, Scotia, Kensington, Aurora, Blue
Hill, Ionia, Bellaire, Polk, Fairfield, Oxford, Campbell, Johnson
Lake, Fairmont, Hastings, Orleans, Rosemont, Greeley, Fullerton,
Wolbach, and Stockton
128 PM CST Tue Dec 16 2025
..HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY
AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Northwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph
possible.

* WHERE...Portions of north central Kansas and central, east
central, and south central Nebraska.

* WHEN...From Thursday morning through Thursday afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds could cause damage to trees. Localized
power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially
for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates.

Address

700 North Washington Street, Room N
Lexington, NE
68850

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+13083242070

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dawson County Emergency Management posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Dawson County Emergency Management:

Shortcuts

Share

Category