A heat dome is parked over a large portion of crops in the Midwest.
That is not rare this time of year, and an Iowa state climatologist warns the heat index could climb fast, raising risks for people and livestock.
According to Dr. Justin Glisan, “With all the moisture availability with these high dew points, we could see oppressive heat index values for a few days. And of course, this affects livestock but also humans that have to work outside. But, seasonally, we haven’t really seen an extended heat wave, and the expectation for next week is it’s not going to be exceedingly hot.”
Heat domes often push storms away from affected areas; forecasters say so-called “ridge riders” could still bring strong weather threats.
“We call this the ‘Ring of Fire,’ a configuration in which you have a heat dome that forms, and then you get ridge riders or weather disturbances that move over the ridge, and this can bring above average rainfall to where that jet stream or where that pattern is locked in,” Dr. Glisan explains. “You can also get some squall line development, but overall, yes, you can get above average rainfall when this type of setup occurs.”
According to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, fire crews remain on alert statewide as Red Flag conditions persist. Officials warn that even contained fires can reignite quickly under current weather conditions.
February 24, 2026 05:46 PM
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The Ranger Road Fire in the Oklahoma Panhandle is now 65% contained after burning nearly 300,000 acres over the past week. Kevin Charleston of Specialty Risk Insurance Agency discusses wildfire recovery, livestock insurance considerations, and the importance of preparedness for producers across the Southern Plains.
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Ranger Road Fire has burned 283,000 acres across Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle and is nearing containment, as ranchers begin assessing cattle and infrastructure losses as they look toward recovery.
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The long-term viability of a ranching operation often hinges on how effectively its owners navigate the overlapping layers of IRS regulations, state tax incentives, and USDA disaster programs.
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New details on the massive wildfire threatening farms and ranches in the Southern Plains.
February 20, 2026 11:24 AM
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The Ranger Road Fire spreads from the Oklahoma Panhandle into Kansas as high winds and red flag conditions persist
February 19, 2026 01:01 PM
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