This week’s warm weather and lack of rainfall will increase fire dangers in Oklahoma on Tuesday.
The fire danger warning came Monday from the Oklahoma Forestry Services department which said the danger was expected to grow in advance of a cold front that move into the Panhandle and western Oklahoma early Wednesday.
” This front will be primarily dry reserving some chance of rainfall in southeast Oklahoma later Wednesday although elevated fire danger will persist in western and portions of northern/central Oklahoma with continued dry condition and stout winds,” cautioned the Forestry Service.
Fire danger will increase with well above normal temperatures, dry conditions and increasing wind speeds ahead of a cold front. Again, the highest fire danger indices will be focused in the Panhandle counties and wester one-third of Oklahoma with moderate conditions east. In the west, high temperatures will range from the mid-70⁰’s to low-80⁰’s under mostly-clear skies with afternoon relative humidity values ranging from 9% in the western Panhandle to 25% west of US 81. Fine-dead fuel moisture at 4-5% with 3% observations locally. Southerly winds will be strongest in western Oklahoma sustained 20-25 mph with some gusts in excess of 30 mph. Rangeland fuels in this area will have potential to exhibit rapid rates of spread during the peak burning conditions while winds in the Panhandle will be somewhat lighter limiting fire spread potential. Forecasted Burning Index points to very-high indices in parts of western
Oklahoma where rates of fire spread in rangeland fuels during peak burning conditions may exhibit 200-255 ft./min with head fire flame lengths 12-13 ft. Initial attack will likely produce some challenges although extended attack efforts are unlikely.
It also said another uptick in fire danger is likely on Friday in advance of another frontal passage.