Stacia Knight Weather Blog: High Winds Bring Fire Danger To NE Oklahoma

Howling winds and dry air will increase our fire danger for the next couple days. A cool front opens the door to northwest winds with gusts up to 25 for today and up to 35 tomorrow. 

Any fires that get started will spread and become out of control very quickly. The highest fire threat for today is northwest of the Metro with spread rates of almost 250 feet per minute. 

Here in the metro, the spread rate is about 100 or more feet per minute. Tomorrow the highest fire threat spreads farther southeast including the metro which will again be almost 250 feet per minute. 

The driest air will filter in on Monday with dew points falling into the teens. The ignition component will be slightly higher tomorrow making it a little easier for fires to ignite. 

Grass fires can become widespread and hard to control for this afternoon and most of the day on Monday. Winds will finally weaken by Tuesday afternoon with gusts falling to 15 mph by that time. 
Brace yourself some strong winds for the next several days. Even the strongest hold hairsprays will have a hard time taming the fly-aways on Monday!