The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings for areas in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona along with forecasts for strong winds and low humidities.
The maps were current as of 8:15 a.m. MDT on Tuesday. Red Flag Warnings can change throughout the day as the National Weather Service offices around the country update and revise their forecasts and maps. For the most current data visit this NWS site.
Report of homes burning to the southwest of Medicine Lodge, KS. Medicine Lodge Hospital is evacuating some patients to other towns.
Day 2 of a massive (over 100 square mile) wildland fire that has burnt out of Woods County Oklahoma into Comanche and Barber Counties in Kansas. Sun City, KS – Lake City, KS have been evacuated and Medicine Lodge is under voluntary evacuation (2,500 population). Fire departments from all over Kansas are trying to stop the spread as the front that is causing the blizzard to our north moves thru and changes the wind direction from NE to SE. Gusts today were as high as 60mph.
Wichita TV – KSNW, KAKE, KWCH
We are about 60 miles away from the fire. It was dark with a maroon sun today, and street lights were on. Ash was falling as far away as 152 miles (as the crow flies) near Junction City, KS.
We also have numerous other grass fires in the area, including one just east of our town of Hutchinson (40,000 population) with structure protection in place and dozer line being built.