Red Flag Warning in effect for western Oklahoma and Panhandle today

According to the Oklahoma Forestry Services, a Red Flag Warning is in effect for much of western Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Panhandle today. Extreme fire danger is predicted to begin early in the burning period, lasting well into the night and on into the early morning hours on Wednesday given the current state of wildland fuels and forecast weather conditions.

Within the Warned Area, temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90s, clear skies and relative humidity values of 5 to 15 percent will deliver fine-dead fuel moisture values as low as 2 percent with widespread observations of 3 percent expected. Extreme rates of fire spread complicated by problematic fire behavior including single and group tree torching, crown runs in juniper (redcedar), and spotting will be present on any fire that becomes established.