High fire danger throughout the day Thursday is expected to give way to severe storm potential late Thursday into the early morning hours Friday.
Red Flag Warnings remain in place through 8 pm for Lyon, Morris, and Wabaunsee counties and 9 pm for Chase and Greenwood counties. Emporia Fire was called to a tree fire at 1255 Road 170 just before 4 pm Thursday.
According to EFD Battalion Chief Eron Steinlage, the cause of the fire is unclear at this time, but crews did manage to contain and extinguish the fire before it could spread. No injuries were reported and no structures were endangered.
Once the fire danger subsides Thursday evening, severe storm potential rolls through the area with a marginal severe weather risk in place for a portion of the area through the late evening hours to early overnight hours.
TV-13 Meteorologist Jeremy Goodwin.
Storm chances will bring a cold front through the area, which will mean much cooler temperatures heading into the weekend after highs in the mid to upper 90s on Wednesday and Thursday.
The cooler temperatures will not mean a reduced fire danger for the area, as Red Flag Warnings have already been issued for the entire listening area from noon to 9 pm, reflecting another day of low relative humidity levels, strong winds, and, despite forecasted rainfall, relatively dry fuels that will mean a quick spread to any fires that develop. On top of this, a fire weather watch has also been issued for the entire KVOE listening area Saturday morning through Saturday evening.
KVOE and KVOE.com will continue to provide updates as the weather situation unfolds in the coming days.
Thursday 1:18 pm: Red flag warnings Thursday, marginal severe weather risk Thursday night
Outdoor burns are banned for Lyon and most surrounding counties due to weather conditions Thursday.
Lyon, Morris and Wabaunsee counties are in an official red flag warning from 11 am to 8 pm. Chase and Greenwood counties are in a separate red flag warning from 1-9 pm.
Conditions are ripe for rapid fire development, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Kris Craven.
Fire danger will also be elevated through the upcoming weekend after a good chance of showers and storms late Thursday night, including a marginal risk for severe hail along and east of a line from Eskridge to Emporia to Teterville to Yates Center.
Temperatures will be sharply cooler — low 60s — for Friday and Saturday, bur northerly gusts will be from 25-35 mph those days and in the same range Sunday as highs climb to the low 80s.
Following a semi fire that triggered a 700-acre grass fire near the Kansas Turnpike in southern Chase County early Wednesday, activity was limited. Greenwood County Emergency Dispatch reports an out-of-control burn that started near Kansas Highway 99 and 50th Street shortly before 1:45 pm.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
