Forecasters say the threat area for today’s critical fire weather danger has expanded. In a midday update, the Storm Prediction Center just added several states to the ‘extreme’ critical fire weather danger area.
A powerful weather system is creating a perfect storm for wildfires today, as record-breaking heat and intense winds turn the Central and Southern Plains into a dangerous tinderbox.
Forecasters have issued rare “extremely critical” Fire Weather Warnings for parts of Colorado and Nebraska, where humidity levels are plunging to near 10% and sustained westerly winds are reaching 30 to 40 mph.
These fierce winds, with gusts potentially hitting 60 to 70 mph, are being driven by a deepening low-pressure system that is yanking hot, dry air down from the mountains and across the parched grasslands.
The risk is amplified by exceptional fuel loading from last year’s wet growing season, which has left behind a thick carpet of dormant, highly flammable vegetation.
With the ground bone-dry and temperatures soaring up to 20 degrees above average, any spark from outdoor burning or power equipment could ignite a fire that spreads with explosive speed.
People across a seven-state region—including Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas—are urged to avoid any spark-producing activities, as these rare conditions make new fires almost impossible to control until weather patterns shift.