Windy conditions and the lack of rainrall over the weekend increased wildfire dangers across the state as Oklahoma continued with a growth of dry conditions.
A Sunday report from the Oklahoma Forestry Division stated that 15 new fires, some large, were attributed to escaped control burns on Saturday but the strong southerly winds on Sunday presented what was described as a “complicated weather scenario” presenting both fire weather and severe weather potential.
“A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for Monday in the Panhandle counties in anticipation of fire-effective weather,” according to the Forestry Division report.
“Relative humnidity values as low as 10% will serve to rapidly dry fuels and winds sustained around 25 mph with gust in excess of 40 mph will support potential for rapid to extreme rates of fire spread. Strong drying conditions will also develop across most of western Oklahoma driving a dlimitied wildfire threat dependent upon rainfall amounts.”
The report believes another storm system on Tuesday will “pose potential for elevated to neear-critical fire weather” in southwestern and southern Oklahoma generally south of I-40 and along and west of I-35.
