Now that the snow from late last month is largely gone, expect fire danger to be a weather-related concern in the short term.
Fire danger will be very high across the area and most of Kansas, thanks to a combination of record highs in the mid-70s, relative humidity levels maxing out at 25 percent and southwest winds gusting to 25 mph. Emporia is set for a high of 79 degrees Monday, which would break the current record of 76 degrees set in 1976. Grasses are also curing or cured after up to 6 inches of snow on Jan. 24.
Temperatures will be lower Tuesday — mid-50s for highs areawide — and relative humidity levels will be as high as 35 percent, but a wind shift to the north and similar wind speeds will keep Tuesday’s fire danger elevated.
To this point, no county-specific burn bans have been announced and conditions are not to levels dictating red flag warnings or automatic burn bans for affected counties. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve has not announced any changes in plans for prescribed fire at its Bottomland and Fox Creek trails Monday.
The fire danger wasn’t as high Sunday, but there were two small grass fires that developed in Emporia after issues with electric equipment. A fire at 12th and Graphic Arts burned up a utility pole and some nearby grass, while another fire burned some nearby grass after some fuses malfunctioned in the 300 block of Graham.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
