The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture and its Forestry Services Division anticipate increased chances of wildfires on Tuesday.
“Fire danger will ratchet up across much of western Oklahoma with the highest fire danger indices developing late in the afternoon in northwestern Oklahoma ahead of a stronger cold front,” stated the Forestry Services in a notice on Monday.
It said a Fire Weather Watch was in effect across western Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Panhandle Counties. Firefighters also anticipate elevated fire dangers across the state on Tuesday because of strong south-southwest winds with some gusts over 45 mph.
The winds and dry conditions mean any fires that break out will see rapid rates of fire spread.