Agricultural News
Latest Fire Situation Report Shows Burn Bans for Cimarron and Texas Counties in the State
Tue, 09 Jun 2020 09:42:43 CDT
Oklahoma Forestry Services has updated its Fire Situation Report and right now we still see burn bans in Cimarron and Texas Counties.
A rather moist May has shifted into a dry June. Drought severity has increased in the Oklahoma
Panhandle and west-central Oklahoma as a result with extreme drought indices in Cimarron County where the area is 164
days separated from a wetting rain. Strong winds are in the forecast as a powerful cold front shifts downslope into the Oklahoma
Panhandle later this morning and on into the body of Oklahoma this afternoon. While this cold front does bring some opportunity
for rainfall in the Panhandle this afternoon, warmer/drier than normal conditions are expected through the near-term forecast
period.
Today: A wind advisory is in effect for much of Oklahoma with a High Wind Warning across northwest Oklahoma and the
Oklahoma Panhandle associated with a strong cold front pushing into the state this morning and shifting southeast through
Oklahoma into the afternoon. A dryline preceding the cold front will lower dew point temperatures resulting in low relative
humidity values this afternoon. Hot temperatures and lagging rainfall have stressed wildland fuels in many areas prompting
unseasonable fuels availability. While live fuel moisture values are expected to suppress fire behavior in general, firefighters
should expect increased resistance to control.
· Oklahoma Panhandle: The cold front passing this morning will result in strong winds shifting from the west to northwest
sustained 35-45 mph with gusts near 75 mph in the eastern Panhandle. Rain chances develop with the frontal passage
although amounts are expected to be negligible. Recent fire activity in the area has been initiated with lightning
ignitions. Lightning activity today is not forecasted to be as impactful as recent storm systems.
· Northwest Oklahoma: The fire environment will be aligned for a brief period this afternoon across the region.
Temperatures will range from 75?-89? with relative humidity values 23-33%. Recent rainfall has supported reasonable
live-fuel moisture which is expected to offset the dry conditions in large part, although areas of rank native grass and
CRP lands may pose some suppression challenges. Firefighters should anticipate potential for problematic fire
behavior in fuels where un-grazed/un-hayed fuels are present. Rates of fire spread averaging 90-150 ft./min should
be expected noting that much faster rates of spread (+/- 200 ft./min) are possible in rank fuels.
· Central/Eastern Oklahoma: Live fuel moisture in grass dominated fuels and shading/sheltering in timber dominated
fuels are expected to mitigate problematic fire behavior. Initial attack success is likely noting that declining 1,000 hr.
fuel moisture values point to increased mop-up commitment.
Dry conditions are forecasted through the remainder of the week along with hot and dry conditions resulting in persistent fire
danger in the near-term. The next update to the Oklahoma Wildfire Situation Report is planned to be issued on Friday, June 12, 2020.
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