Agricultural News
A Red Flag Warning is in effect for a Significant portion of The State
Wed, 06 Apr 2022 14:37:34 CDT
Statewide Discussion: A Red Flag Warning is in effect for a significant portion of Oklahoma including counties along and north of I-44 as well as east-central Oklahoma beginning mid-morning persisting into the late evening hours. Oklahoma is expected to experience several consecutive days of enhanced fire danger with focus on western Oklahoma where alignment of fuels and weather will support potential for large fire occurrence and increasing significant fire potential. In addition to the Red Flag Warning for today, a Fire Weather Watch is in effect for parts of western, northwestern and Oklahoma Panhandle Counties.
Today: Poor overnight moisture recovery across the western one-third of Oklahoma, very dry air overspreading the state today and persistent strong northwest winds will drive enhanced fire danger across much of Oklahoma. Alignment of concerning fire environment inputs with emphasis on fuel dryness and weather will reside in northwestern Oklahoma and the eastern Panhandle where significant fire occurrence potential highest. Increased initial attack frequency and large fire potential along and north of I-44 is very likely with an extended burning period in the presence of amplified fire weather over a fuelscape dominated by dormant vegetation. South of I-44, winds will not be quite as strong, although intrusion of very dry air will boost fine-dead fuel receptiveness resulting in an increase in initial attack activity. Recent rainfall south of I-44 has prompted green-up in cool-season grasses, along roadsides and in yards offering numerous barriers to fire spread.
• Northwest / Oklahoma Panhandle: Significant fire occurrence potential is highest today in this area. Additionally, there will be a resource drain in the area with continued commitment to the Beaver River Fire. 59°-67° under clear skies with afternoon relative humidity values 8-12% will result in very receptive 1-hour fuels at 3%. With poor overnight moisture recovery and very dry air in place an extended burning period is expected. Post-frontal, northwest winds sustained 26-35 mph gusting 40-51 mph will support extreme rates of fire spread. Rangeland fuels in this area will support head-fire rates of spread 318-404 ft/min (3.6-4.5 mph) with flame lengths 17-20 ft on established fires. Where large areas of rangeland fuels are present, in alignment with wind and topography, rates of spread approaching 450 ft/min (+5.0 mph) are possible.
• Western / North-Central Oklahoma: Temperatures in the mid-60°'s to near 70°under clear skies with afternoon relative humidity values 9-16% yielding fine-dead fuel moisture values 3-4% will support very-rapid to extreme rates of fire spread with northwest winds sustained 20-31 mph gusting around 40 mph. Range and grass dominated fuels will exhibit head fire rates of spread 221-318 ft/min (+/- 3.1 mph) with flame lengths 15-20 ft. The burning period will persist well into the evening and into the overnight hours with poor to marginal overnight recovery and persistent northwest winds.
• South of I-44: Recent rainfall has improved composite fuel moisture values and spurred some green up along roadsides, in yard grasses and in grazed pastures offering numerous barriers to fire spread. Nonetheless, very dry air will push into the area today and areas of timber and warm-season dominate pastures will support potential for increased initial attack activity and some large fire potential. Temperatures 66°-69° and afternoon relative humidity values 15-27% will under clearing skies will prompt receptive 1-hour fuels at 5% across most of the area. Grass-dominated areas will be most susceptible to both fire starts and active fire spread while timber fuels will exhibit somewhat muted fire behavior. Warmseason grass dominated fuels will exhibit head fire rates of spread 115-210 ft/min with flame lengths 12-16 ft. Firefighters are encouraged to scout fireline access on foot prior to committing engines due to very soft soils.
Resources Available: (800) 800-2481
• OFS Suppression Group (Overhead, Engines, Dozers) Assigned to Beaver River Fire in Beaver County
• OFS Suppression Group (Overhead, Engines, Dozers) Woodward
• 2 National Guard Helicopters w/ Bambi Buckets Due to predicted winds, flights northwest of I-44 may not occur.
• 1 OHP Fixed-Wing Aircraft w/ OFS Operations Specialist
Thursday: Extreme fire danger indices will persist again in northwestern Oklahoma with high to very-high fire danger indices north of I-44. A Fire Weather Watch is in effect across western Oklahoma where northwest winds sustained 25-35 mph with gusts potentially topping 50 mph will drive potential for extreme rates of fire spread. Near-Term: The near-term forecast is dominated by persistent fire danger with near-critical to critical fire weather inputs over very receptive fuels. Both large fire and significant fire potential will be present into next week with focus on western Oklahoma. Resource commitment is expected to be extensive through the period, and potential for a significant fire potential ramps up April 11-13.
Burn Bans:
Refer to: https://ag.ok.gov/divisions/forestry-services/ for the most current burn ban
information and links to specific burn ban proclamations
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