Weather conditions have set the stage for critical to catastrophic fire danger areawide and a marginal severe weather risk just east of Emporia on Friday.
The fire danger spans the entire day, thanks to a combination of temperatures in the 70s, wind gusts up to 50-60 mph, dry grasses and low relative humidity levels. Red flag warnings are in effect for Lyon and most surrounding counties from 10 am to 8 pm and Chase and Greenwood counties from 10 am to 9 pm, meaning automatic burn bans across the area while those warnings are in effect. There are also high wind warnings — 12-7 pm for Lyon and most surrounding counties, 10 am to 8 pm for Chase and Greenwood counties. In addition, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has issued a verbal state of disaster emergency Friday through Sunday, with elevated fire danger expected through the weekend.
TV-13 meteorologist Doug Meyers says one of the concerns with thunderstorms is “dry lightning.”
Meyers and Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell have been urging landowners to be proactive by checking prior burns from earlier in the week.
The National Weather Service has also put out the rare statement that people should heed evacuation orders if those are issued.
Grass fire activity so far this week has been sporadic. Emporia Fire handled a small grass fire in the 1200 block of J on Thursday afternoon, as well as a small fire in the 1700 block of Road 175 and a mutual-aid call with Americus in the 800 block of Road 240 on Wednesday. Separate out-of-control grass fires destroyed a shed in the 900 block of Road 212, about three miles north of Emporia, and over 70 hay bales in the 1100 block of Road 90 near Olpe on Tuesday.
Along with the fire risk, high winds could cause widespread power outages and will likely make travel difficult for high-profile vehicles like large trucks.
The severe weather risk is isolated, with a marginal risk area along and north of a line from Burlington to Reading to Alta Vista. Besides lightning, wind and hail are the concerns with any storm activity.
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