Red flag warning and increased fire danger across Oklahoma as drought continues
By Meteorologist Mikayla Smith
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OKLAHOMA (KOCO) — KOCO 5 is tracking a critical fire danger on Thursday as another red flag warning is in effect for western Oklahoma.
Below is what you need to know about Oklahoma’s fire danger and drought conditions.
A red flag warning is in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday for all of western Oklahoma and stretching close to Oklahoma County.
Although the warning was only issued for western Oklahoma, there is still a low fire danger in central and western Oklahoma.
It has been several weeks since central and western Oklahoma received beneficial rain, and some places have gone several months without even a quarter inch of rainfall.
Over the last week, the heaviest rain fell across eastern Oklahoma, where widespread values were well over an inch.
The rain is much needed after coming out of a top 20 driest February on record for Oklahoma City.
All of this dry weather will lead to a risk of increased fire danger heading into the weekend. There is a risk each day, with Thursday and Sunday being the greatest concern.
Oklahoma needs the rain to prevent fires from ravaging the state like it did last year. Last March, a fire outbreak ended up burning more than 170,000 acres as well as 500 structures and was responsible for four deaths in Oklahoma.
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