Elevated Fire Weather Expected Across Oklahoma This Weekend

The first official weekend of spring is expected to have elevated fire weather in Oklahoma. Those who are planning on taking advantage of the warm weather in Oklahoma this weekend will want to be cautious to avoid sparking a wildfire.

The National Weather Service in Norman is expecting elevated fire weather across much of Oklahoma this weekend. On Friday, Feb. 28, most of Oklahoma and western north Texas will see elevated fire weather with temperatures to top out in the high 70s with an average windspeed up to 18 miles per hour and max gusts at 28 miles per hour.

Oklahoma will get a break from the potential fire weather on Saturday, March 1, but elevated fire weather will return Sunday, March 2. Western Oklahoma and western north Texas could see high temperatures in the upper 70s on Sunday with average windspeed up to 26 miles per hour and gusts up to 40 miles per hour. On Monday, the elevated fire weather will effect mostly far western north Texas.

Fire weather on Tuesday, March 4 expected to be critical.

The National Weather Service in Norman is closely watching the potential for critical fire weather on Tuesday, March 4. This is expected to affect southwest Oklahoma and north Texas, which are to see temperatures up to the mid-70s, average wind speeds up 39 miles per hour and max wind gusts of 59 miles per hour.

Rain chances also expected to increase across Oklahoma this weekend and into next week.

Luckily, Oklahoma has increased chances of rain this week into next week. Most of Oklahoma could see rain Sunday and into Sunday night with the potential for thunderstorms. Rain chances will increase again for Oklahoma on Tuesday with a chance for strong thunderstorms. Oklahoma could see a quarter of an inch of rainfall by next week.