Storm to increase fire threat, bring drought relief to central Plains late this week.
After moving out of the Rockies, the storm will intensify over the High Plains early Thursday.
“A high fire threat will continue though midweek for the central and southern High Plains, from eastern Colorado and New Mexico into western Texas,” said Sodja.
Areas impacted by wildfires in western Kansas and Oklahoma in early March are still under moderate to extreme drought conditions, and will again be under a high fire threat.
The recent drought across the region is also affecting the eastern plains of Colorado, southwestern Nebraska, western Kansas and Oklahoma, resulting in plenty of dry vegetation to act as fuel for any fires.
Fire bans are likely to be issued, and residents should be mindful of properly extinguishing cigarettes and barbecues.
Just to the east of these areas, sufficient recent rainfall will make for a less urgent fire threat.
“This will also be accompanied by more moist air, so the greatest fire threat will remain west of these areas, though gusty winds will exacerbate existing fires,” Sodja said.
Luckily, the end of the hot and dry weather is in the forecast for drought-afflicted areas.
As the area of rain and thunderstorm development tracks eastward into the weekend, drought areas across the Southeast can expect significant relief as well.