The NWS has issued a Red Flag Fire Warning for Jay's corner of Kansas for tomorrow afternoon. I've linked it below. Here is a link that might be useful: NWS Webpage

OKbev, You're welcome. I always try to post them if I am home and notice them in time. We live in a clearing in the woods too. We have heavy woodland on our property to our west and north, and mixed grassland/woodland to our south. To our east we have a well-maintained ranch that is mostly grassland and a roadway. I feel like our worst fire threat is from the south, and that's where the wind often seems to come from during this time of year. On bad fire days, I turn on the sprinkler and water almost all day, first watering on the side from which fire would approach and then eventually all the way around the house and barn. After I have watered everything, I set up sprinklers on the sides of the house most vulnerable. If we get paged out to a fire and I have to leave, I turn on the sprinklers before leaving. I'm going to link a wonderful document that tells you how to proceed in the safest manner possible if fire threatens your property. My son is a professional firefighter and he about had a stroke last week when I told him some folks we know here in OK stayed home and protected their house instead of evacuating on Friday. He wanted me to tell everyone (so I am telling y'all here) that a wind-driven wildfire can fully engulf a home in 3 to 4 minutes and staying home is dangerous. Most people would die of smoke inhalation before the flames actually reached them, if there is any consolation in that. I understand his message, and I understand some people will choose to stay home anyway. I wouldn't. I'd leave in a heartbeat. I am afraid parts of Oklahoma are in for a really rough couple of days later in the week in terms of heat and wildfire. I am going to watch the fire forecast updates that pop up after every model run and will keep everyone updated. Stay safe everybody. Dawn Here is a link that might be useful: Wildfire Approaching Safety Checklist from OFS

Suzie, You're welcome. I always try to post high wind or high fire danger watches and warnings at this time of year because they can be just as dangerous as convective storms, and last April's horrible wildfire day is a perfect example of that. Today I think my seedlings will have to stay in the fairly dimly-lit barn because forecast winds here will be in the 20-40s with gusts as high as 55 mph here along the Red River. There's no way I'll subject all my flats of spring veggie seedlings to those winds. From experience, at 55 mph, we'll see trash cans, lawn furniture and even trampolines blowing around. I dread days like this. In the past, they have brought down power lines, started fires and even blown my tiny peaches and plums off the trees. I know March is supposed to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb. Here in southern OK, it came in like a lamb and I guess it is going to go out like a lion. Keep your grandscon anchored down! Almost half the state remains under a Wind Advisory today. Dawn

Jay, Once the cold weather passes, it may be tomato planting time here......maybe about Tues. or Wed. depending on what the forecasters say and on what I feel "in my bones". I think that after this cold spell passes, zone 7B "ought to" be done with the cold, but I might be wrong. I'm making progress too, but there's so much I need to do that actually involves "planting" and, with this cold spell, planting of warm-season crops just isn't smart yet. Imp, I hope you're not in the part of NW OK expecting wind gusts up to 60 mph between about noon and 3 p.m. because that kind of wind is so hard on plants (and power lines, etc.) The last time we had wind like that here, trampolines went flying hundreds of feet and, in more open areas, hundreds of yards. And, of course, some power lines came down. I hope you can throw bedsheets or blankets or something over your ornamentals and save them. This certainly is challenging weather. Dawn