Large, damaging wildfires hit portions of southwest Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle yesterday, and we are not done with the threat.
While conditions will not be as extreme as Tuesday, we will still see favorable conditions for fire spread today with breezy to gusty winds especially to the southwest.
Relative humidity will fall to between 10% and 15% in southwest Kansas by afternoon. This bone dry air will support rapid fire growth.
Places that burned yesterday will be a ready source of reignition today, along with any human activity that could lead to sparks. A Fire Weather Warning covers southwestern Kansas through the evening.
Temperatures will be mild, with highs in the 60s.
Thursday again features gusty winds, this time associated with a cold front.
The front will help to ease fire concerns to the north by Thursday afternoon thanks to improved humidity, while warmer areas south of the front will be under the gun for more critical fire danger.
Fire danger will be high again especially south of the Oklahoma state line. Fire Weather Warnings could be expanded into southern Kansas as well Thursday.
Chillier air takes over with highs dropping to the 30s and 40s by Friday. There is a chance of a few rain and snow showers especially for western Kansas Friday evening. A few areas of minor snow accumulation will be possible through Saturday morning, but moisture is in limited supply.
Gusty conditions will continue to keep fire danger in mind as temperatures rise again next week.
KSN Storm Track 3 Forecast from Meteorologist Jack Maney:
Wichita:…