***** Update 5:50 a.m. 3-14 *****
Today's high wind warning has now been expanded to include most of eastern Kansas. The red flag warning in place today has been upgraded to a Particularly Dangerous Situation for south central and southeast Kansas. The area where dry thunderstorms could develop still includes the four-state area, but has also expanded to the west.
***** Original Story *****
A powerful storm system is expected to bring very high winds to the four-state area Friday.
National Weather Service forecasters are now calling for near-historic grassland fire spread rates for southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma of nearly 400 feet per minute. Wind gusts between 50 and 60 mph will be common tomorrow during the midday and afternoon hours, with the strongest gusts expected along and north of I-44, where isolated gusts up to 70 mph could occur. A red flag warning will be in place tomorrow for the entire KGGF four-state listening area, and a high wind warning has been issued for Butler, Greenwood, Woodson, Allen, Cowley, Elk, Wilson, Neosho, Chautauqua, Montgomery and Labette Counties in southeast Kansas, all counties in northeast Oklahoma and Benton and Washington Counties in Arkansas. The warnings will be in place tomorrow from 10 a.m. through 8 p.m.
In addition, low humidity and favorable fuel conditions will pose an extreme to catastrophic threat across all of southeast Kansas and much of northeast Oklahoma, roughly west of U.S. 69 and north of I-40, although the potential for rapid fire spread will be present across the entire four-state area by the afternoon.
There is also the chance for the development of some isolated thunderstorms in eastern Kansas, northeast Oklahoma, western Missouri and far northwest Arkansas tomorrow. Little rain is expected from these storms if they form, but lightning has the potential to ignite some fires.
Throughout Friday, winds are expected to be from the southwest. After sunset in southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma, winds are expected to shift to the west/northwest as the cold front is expected to move into Elk and Chautauqua Counties around 10 p.m.
Rapidly spreading fires, downed power lines from wind and potential structure damage are all a possibility. Properly disposing cigarettes, keeping vehicles off dry grass, avoiding power equipment that makes sparks and any activities with open flames will be crucial for preventing fires.
Stay tuned for further updates and listen to expanded weather coverage Friday morning at 7:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. and throughout the day on The Mighty 690.
