A Red Flag Fire Warning has been issued for far southwestern Oklahoma and for the adjacent counties in Texas just across the the Red River. It will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The wind is blowing hard and, even though some green-up has occurred, there still remains a lot of dry, dormant to semi-dormant (or dead) vegetation, like last year's tall pasture grasses that have not been grazed or cut down.

Even if you are not in the Red Flag Fire Warning area at this time, remember that the NWS often expands the Warning area throughout the day as conditions warrant.

Any fires that start today could be very difficult to contain in the wind. I don't want for anyone to panic-today's conditions are not as extreme as they were a couple of weeks ago. This is, I think, our first Red Flag Fire Warning since that horrible day when extreme wind-driven wild fire ravaged our state, but fire danger today is 'only' "high" to "very high", whereas it was "extreme" to "extremely critical" on that day.

The text of the Red Flag Fire Warning is linked below.

If a fast-moving wildfire develops near you, be sure to monitor NWS forecasts and be sure your weather radio is turned on. Often, the NWS will activate the All-Hazards Weather Radio system to warn of approaching wildfire and to give evacuation information, if your county's local emergency management director requests such an action. That type of warning usually pops up as a "Fire Warning".

Finally, remember to water your plants. Today's heat and wind will dry them out very quickly and can even kill very tender tomato and pepper plants that are still undergoing the "hardening off" process or which were very recently transplanted.

Dawn

Here is a link that might be useful: Today's Red Flag Fire Warning