Warm conditions prompt wildfire concerns
Warm conditions prompt wildfire concerns

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By Brian Sargent

Published: February 28, 2008

Southerly winds increasing to 20 to 30 mph today in Oklahoma will bring in warmer temperatures with highs ranging from the lower 60s to the lower 70s, according to the National Weather Service.

The combination of strong winds, warm temperatures and low humidity will cause an elevated risk of wildfires. A weak cold front will move through the Southern Plains late this afternoon through tonight but will only cool temperatures by a few degrees for Friday in most areas, forecasters said.

Lows should dip into the 30s and 40s tonight.

No precipitation is expected with the front.

The wildfire potential today for Oklahoma and north Texas will be extreme.

Humidity will range from 15 to 40 percent, with winds 15 to 25 mph and gusting to 35 mph.

The wildfire potential Friday through Tuesday for the same areas will be high to very high.

Humidity will range from 20 to 80 percent, with winds 5 to 25 mph and gusting to 35 mph.

Partly cloudy conditions are expected on Friday and Saturday, with temperatures warming into the 60s on Friday and into the 60s and 70s on Saturday. Lows should fall into the 30s and 40s Saturday night, forecasters said.

A storm system is expected to arrive Sunday. Rain and thunderstorms — some strong to severe — will be possible, forecasters said.

Temperatures should peak in the 50s and 60s on Sunday and range from the 30s in the Panhandle to the middle 50s in southern sections Sunday night.

The temperature in Oklahoma City at 1 p.m. today was 65 degrees. Southerly winds were 15 to 20 mph, gusting to about 30 mph. Today's high will be mid-60s.

In Tulsa, the temperature was 62 degrees. Southerly winds were about 15 mph, gusting to about 20 mph. Today's high will be lower 60s.

Elsewhere:

• Altus in Jackson County: 67 degrees.

• Idabel in McCurtain County: 64 degrees.

• Guymon in Texas County: 67 degrees.

• Miami in Ottawa County: 57 degrees.

On Wednesday, temperatures ranged from 55 in Bartlesville and Ponca City to 66 in Lawton. It was 56 degrees in Enid, Muskogee and Tulsa and 63 degrees in Clinton and Oklahoma City, according to the weather service.

Advisory, warning, watch issued

A lake wind advisory is effective until 6 p.m. today for McCurtain County.

A lake wind advisory means winds will cause rough chop. Small boats will be prone to capsizing.

A red flag warning is effective until 7 p.m. today for Beckham, Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Custer, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kiowa, Roger Mills, Tillman and Washita counties.

A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions will happen shortly. A combination of strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures will cause explosive fire growth potential.

In the warning area, southerly to southwesterly winds will be 20 to 25 mph, gusting to 40 mph. Extremely dry air will combine with humidity below 20 percent, temperatures in the 70s and dormant vegetation, causing favorable conditions for the spread of wildfires.

A fire weather watch will be effective through Saturday afternoon for Cimarron and Texas counties.

A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are predicted.

Minimum afternoon humidity will be 15 percent or less with winds of at least 20 mph.

Burn ban effective

A burn ban is effective for Comanche and Texas counties in the Panhandle.

Still, officials in the state Agriculture, Food and Forestry Department urged Oklahomans not to burn outside when winds are higher than 15 mph.

For more ban information, call the state Agriculture, Food and Forestry Department at 522-6158.

Oklahoma forecast

• Today: Highs from the lower 60s to the lower 70s.

• Tonight: Lows in the lower 30s to the mid-40s.

• Friday: Highs in the 60s. Slight chance of rain in the far southeast.

Oklahoma City area forecast