Weather conditions ripe for fire danger
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By Brian Sargent
Published: January 28, 2008
Dry, windy conditions are expected today throughout Oklahoma, making the state ripe for fire danger, the National Weather Service said.
Sunny skies and breezy conditions are expected statewide, with daytime highs ranging from the lower 60s in southeast Oklahoma to the mid-70s in southwest portions of the state.
Temperatures are expected to drop overnight as a cold front pushes into the state, with temperatures from the 20s in the Panhandle to the lower 50s in southeast Oklahoma.
A chance for light rain or snow is forecast for Thursday in northern and west-central parts of the state, while central and southern parts of the state will see a chance for showers and thunderstorms.
Daytime highs are expected in the 40s, with overnight lows ranging from the 20s in the Panhandle to around 40 in southwest Oklahoma.
The temperature in Oklahoma City at 1 p.m. today was 62 degrees.
In Tulsa, the temperature was 55.
Forecasters said the Oklahoma City area should top out today near 70 and the Tulsa area should top out near 65. Winds in both cities will be 20 to 30 mph, gusting to 45 mph.
Advisories, warnings issued
A wind advisory will be effective until 6 p.m. today for Alfalfa, Beaver, Beckham, Blaine, Craig, Creek, Custer, Delaware, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Grant, Harper, Kay, Kingfisher, Major, Noble, Nowata, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Roger Mills, Rogers, Tulsa, Washington, Washita, Woods and Woodward counties.
A wind advisory means that sustained winds more than 30 mph are expected, causing difficult driving conditions.
A high wind warning will be effective until 6 p.m. today for Cimarron and Texas counties.
A high wind warning means sustained winds of at least 40 mph, gusting to near 60 mph, are happening or expected. Winds may cause property damage.
A lake wind advisory will be effective until 6 p.m. today for McCurtain County.
A lake wind advisory means that winds will cause rough chop on lakes. Small boats will be prone to capsizing.
A red flag warning will be effective until 8 p.m. today for Beckham, Ellis, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, Roger Mills, Woods and Woodward counties.
Southwesterly winds from 25 to 35 mph, gusting to 45 mph, will develop across these nine counties, the weather service said. Relative humidity will drop sharply when a dryline this afternoon moves across the area.
A red flag warning means critical fire weather conditions are occurring or will happen. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential.
Today, the fire danger is predicted to be extreme, according to the National Weather Service Web site. The fire outlook will remain high through Saturday.
Relative humidity in parts of Oklahoma today is predicted to be from 19 to 75 percent, with southwesterly winds nearing 35 mph and gusting near 45 mph, creating conditions conducive to wildfires.
No counties under burn ban
Despite the wildfire risk and high winds, no counties are under a burn ban, the Oklahoma Forestry Service reported.
The most recent burn ban in Oklahoma ended in December 2006, said Steve Mattax, staff forester with the state Agriculture, Food and Forestry Department.
Gov. Brad Henry has the authority to ban all outdoor burning in designated areas, based on drought, fire occurrence and input from the local community.
The process begins with the state Agriculture, Food and Forestry Department's forestry division conducting an analysis of drought conditions, fire activity and discussions with local officials, usually county commissioners. Once the affected counties agree and the conditions of drought and unusual fire activity are established, the director of the forestry division makes a recommendation to the governor that those counties be placed in a governor's ban on burning.
Earlier this month, an emergency burn ban for Comanche County was denied after a fire destroyed 6,000 acres. County officials had petitioned the state Agriculture, Food and Forestry Department to issue the ban.
State forester John Burwell said an emergency burn ban could not be issued because moisture levels in the soil didn't indicate that southwest Oklahoma was experiencing a drought.
The Comanche County fire on Jan. 5 forced evacuation of nearly 40 homes while 27 local fire departments worked to get the fire under control.
Oklahoma forecast
• Today : Partly to mostly cloudy. Highs in the 60s ands 70s.
• Tonight : Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s in the Panhandle to the 50s in the east.
• Tuesday : Mostly sunny. Highs in the 40s in the Panhandle to the 60s in the far southeast. Slight chance of rain in the east.
Oklahoma City area forecast
• Today : Highs in the upper 60s. Southerly winds 25 to 30 mph, gusting to 45 mph.
• Tonight : Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid-40s. Southwesterly winds 15 to 20 mph.
• Tuesday night : Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 20s. Southeasterly winds 10 to 15 mph.
Contributing: The Associated Press
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