Wildfire Potential, National Weather Service, Norman

Wind advisory, National Weather Service, Norman
HARPER-WOODS-ALFALFA-GRANT-KAY-ELLIS-WOODWARD-MAJOR-GARFIELD-
NOBLE-ROGER MILLS-DEWEY-CUSTER-BLAINE-KINGFISHER-LOGAN-PAYNE-
BECKHAM-WASHITA-CADDO-CANADIAN-OKLAHOMA-LINCOLN-GRADY-MCCLAIN-
CLEVELAND-POTTAWATOMIE-HARMON-GREER-KIOWA-JACKSON-TILLMAN-
COMANCHE-HARDEMAN-FOARD-WILBARGER-KNOX-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…BUFFALO…ALVA…CHEROKEE…MEDFORD…
PONCA CITY…ARNETT…WOODWARD…FAIRVIEW…ENID…PERRY…
CHEYENNE…TALOGA…WEATHERFORD…CLINTON…WATONGA…
KINGFISHER…GUTHRIE…STILLWATER…ELK CITY…SAYRE…CORDELL…
ANADARKO…YUKON…EL RENO…MUSTANG…OKLAHOMA CITY…CHANDLER…
CHICKASHA…PURCELL…NORMAN…MOORE…SHAWNEE…HOLLIS…
MANGUM…HOBART…ALTUS…FREDERICK…LAWTON…QUANAH…
CHILLICOTHE…CROWELL…VERNON…MUNDAY…KNOX CITY
349 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011
…WIND ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM
CDT THIS EVENING…
THE WIND ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO
10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR PARTS OF WESTERN NORTH TEXAS AND MUCH
OF WESTERN… CENTRAL… AND NORTHERN OKLAHOMA.
* TIMING: GUSTY WINDS THIS MORNING WILL INCREASE FURTHER BY MIDDAY
AND REMAIN STRONG THROUGH MID EVENING.
* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS NEAR 50 MPH LIKELY.
* IMPACTS: SMALL UNSECURED OBJECTS SUCH AS LAWN FURNITURE AND
TRASH CANS MAY BE BLOWN AWAY. DRIVING WILL BE DIFFICULT DUE TO
CROSSWINDS. VISIBILITY MAY BE REDUCED BY BLOWING DUST IN SOME
AREAS.
Forecast on this Sunday morning, National Weather Service, Norman
REGIONAL WEATHER DISCUSSION…
AT 730 AM… A DRYLINE EXTENDED ALONG A LINE FROM NEAR WAKITA AND
CHEROKEE… TO FAIRVIEW… TO NEAR CLINTON AND MANGUM… TO WEST OF
ALTUS OKLAHOMA… TO NEAR CROWELL AND BENJAMIN TEXAS. THIS DRYLINE
WILL QUICKLY MOVE EAST THIS MORNING ACROSS PARTS OF OKLAHOMA AND
NORTH TEXAS.
EAST OF THE DRYLINE… THE AIRMASS IS MOIST WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE
70S. WINDS WERE MAINLY FROM THE SOUTH AT 15 TO 20 MPH WITH
OCCASIONAL WIND GUSTS TO 30 MPH. THE AIRMASS TO THE WEST OF THE
DRYLINE IS VERY DRY WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY READINGS ALREADY RANGING
FROM 20 TO 30 PERCENT. WINDS WILL BE FROM THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST AT
15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
A SHOWER WILL MOVE ACROSS PARTS OF BLAINE COUNTY THROUGH 9 AM
PRODUCING LIGHT RAIN.
THE VERY DRY AIR WILL SPREAD EAST BEHIND THE DRYLINE THIS MORNING.
WIND SPEEDS WILL ALSO INCREASE TODAY… WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 50 MPH
POSSIBLE. THE DRY AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL INCREASE THE WILDFIRE
POTENTIAL THIS MORNING FOR LOCATIONS WEST OF THE DRYLINE.
Wildfire safety tips from Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management
STAY SAFE
Wildfires are often caused by human activity. High winds and dry conditions can set the stage for potentially severe fires. The greatest single cause is when burning debris is not properly contained and sparks or burning trash blow into the air.
Oklahomans can help prevent fires if they:
- Be careful when pulling off a road or driving into a field. Hot catalytic converters can ignite vegetation.
- Avoid burning trash. Even a barrel covered with a screen can allow a spark to escape, igniting nearby vegetation.
- If you smoke in your car, extinguish cigarettes in vehicle ashtrays. Never toss a cigarette out of a car window, and don’t put cigarettes out on the ground.
- Keep a fire extinguisher and water handy when working outdoors with equipment that gets hot, or involves sparks, such as welding equipment. Water down outdoor work areas in advance if possible.
If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Choose a route away from the fire hazard and be alert to changes in the speed and direction of fire and smoke.
Preparing for Wildfires, National Weather Service, Norman
