Oklahoma At Risk Of Wildfire Outbreak This Week

The winds will definitely be sweeping down the plains of Oklahoma this week! Oklahoma is at risk of a wildfire outbreak due to high winds and dry conditions. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for the Oklahoma panhandle on Wednesday, March 12. But most of the state will see critical to extreme fire risk on Friday, March 14.

On Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Norman issued a Red Flag Warning for two counties in the Oklahoma panhandle and multiple counties in Texas. The Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 12. The warning was issued due to low relative humidity and gusty wind in the areas.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or will. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Other areas of Oklahoma are at an elevated fire risk for Wednesday, including western Oklahoma and areas of north Texas. Residents in these areas are urged to avoid activities that cause sparks or flames, properly dispose of lit cigarettes, check trailer chains, don't park cars on grass and obey local burn bans.

As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, the Oklahoma Forestry Services has not noted any burn bans in Oklahoma.

READ MORE: Oklahoma Man Puts Out Wildfire With Wet T-Shirt

Critical to extreme fire risk is possible across Oklahoma on Friday.

Oklahomans will want to remain weather aware the rest of the week as the state's fire risk is expected to increase by Friday when southwest winds ranging from 25-40 miles per hour and 55 miles per hour wind gusts impact the state.

According to the National Weather Service in Norman, a strong storm system is expected to move through Oklahoma this Friday, bringing in several weather hazards, including "a large area of critical to extreme fire weather conditions, strong winds and potentially reduced visibility due to blowing dust."

As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Norman still has a few uncertainties with Friday's potential severe weather, including how far east the critical and elevated fire weather conditions will spread and the timing of cold front that will shift winds to the northwest.

Oklahomans are urged to continue to monitor the local forecast for the latest updates and prepare for high winds and potential fire weather concerns on Friday.

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