Severe storm chances are becoming more likely for the KVOE listening area Wednesday.
The National Weather Service has upped its previous projections for severe activity from a slight risk to enhanced risk for the entire KVOE listening area with all hazards possible Wednesday afternoon and evening. According to the latest update from the storm prediction center, the main concerns will be for damaging winds, hail and possible tornadoes between 1-10 pm with the peak window for activity coming between 5 pm and 9 pm for the core KVOE listening area.
The severe weather threat will replace high fire danger as the main forecast concern after two days of high winds and low relative humidity specifically on Monday. The conditions did lead to a few fire calls for area firefighters specifically in neighboring counties.
Lyon County Fire District 5, Hartford Neosho Rapids, was called out to Old Highway 50 and Dobbin Road around 2:30 pm Monday to assist Coffey County fire with a grass fire. According to District 5 Fire Chief Greg Zumbrunn, the fire was a mile long when they arrived on the scene.
As crews were battling that fire they were also called to assist Osage County with a fire at 325th and Valencia. According to Zumbrunn that blaze was knocked down quickly and was a rekindle from a fire Sunday that destroyed two barns.
Lyon County Fire District 1, Reading/Miller, was called back to 325th and Valencia around 2 pm Tuesday for another grass fire, however, they were canceled en route to the area about 15 minutes later. Details on the situation are currently pending.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more information as it becomes available.
10:38 pm Tuesday: Higher humidity levels lessening fire risk — slightly — ahead of severe weather risk Wednesday
Wind speeds will be higher Tuesday than Monday, but the fire risk will be a bit lower.
The reason, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Nathan Griesemer, is simple:
Even though Tuesday will be noticeably more humid than Monday was, Griesemer says the fire danger will still be quite high because fires that develop will make it hard to put them out due to the wind speeds — up to 50 mph out of the south.
All area counties are in a wind advisory until 7 am Wednesday. Although there are no red flag warnings signaling critical fire danger and automatic outdoor burns for any area county, Chase County is in a county-specific burn ban until at least Wednesday. Osage County was in a burn ban Monday and will revisit that decision Tuesday morning.
Wind speeds will be between 30-40 mph Wednesday, but the main concern shifts from wind and fire danger to severe thunderstorm activity. Griesemer says rain chances increase through the morning hours before the severe weather threat builds.
The Storm Prediction Center has outlined an all-hazard slight risk for all area counties. The main hazards are wind and hail.
Moderate drought continues across the area, and any rain from Wednesday will be too late to affect the US Drought Monitor’s weekly update coming Thursday. However, there are numerous chances of showers and storms Friday night through at least Monday. Severe weather appears unlikely at this time.
Be sure to stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
