By John Dobberstein, Editor
Firefighters across the state are on high alert as high winds, accompanied by low humidity and warm temperatures, will blow into Oklahoma Friday morning.
A Red Flag Warning (extreme fire weather danger) has been issued for Friday for eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. A combination of strong winds and dry conditions will lead to rapid spread of any fires across the region. Southwest winds will hum along 35-40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph in and around the Tulsa area, with the high winds lasting from 10 a.m. to about 8 p.m.
“These conditions will help to create critical to extreme grassland fire spread rates Friday afternoon into evening. Take any precaution to avoid any activities that could create a spark,” the NWS said in an advisory Thursday night.
Parts of Tulsa and Wagoner counties are in the “critical” or “extreme” fire danger category, with grass fires potentially spreading at a rate of 280 to 480 feet per minute. Blowing dust in some areas could also become a problem.
The Broken Arrow Fire Department said it was increasing staff Friday to deal with any potential wildfire issues.
“We are highly encouraging folks to refrain from open burning, such as grilling and/or welding as conditions will be primed for rapid grassland fire spread,” BAFD said. “With high winds, any little spark can take off and rapidly grow into a wildfire. Please do not leave vehicles idling while parked on grass, as hot mufflers can ignite the dry ground below.”
In addition to the high winds and dust storms here, a severe weather outbreak is expected to emerge Friday with the same storm across the lower and mid-Mississippi and mid-Missouri and lower Ohio River valleys. That will be followed by more severe weather in the Deep South Saturday.
Leave a Reply