UPDATED at 9:08 a.m. MST Dec. 15, 2021
2) The first Extremely Critical Fire Weather Outlook for the Southern and Central Plains during December in @NWSSPC history.
Dangerous, life-threatening fire weather conditions are likely with fast moving and uncontrollable fire spread due to extreme winds and dry conditions. pic.twitter.com/IlAYpDiNa3— National Weather Service (@NWS) December 15, 2021
Originally published at 7:33 p.m. MST Dec. 14, 2021
Critical fire weather on Wednesday December 15 has now been confirmed for eastern Colorado, most of Kansas, southeast Nebraska, eastern New Mexico, southwest Iowa, northwest Missouri, and the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma.
Red Flag Warnings issued by the National Weather Service Tuesday predict very strong west or southwest winds 30 to 45 mph with gusts to 60 or 80 depending on the location and relative humidity in the low teens. Red Flag Warnings will expire Wednesday evening.
With the area experiencing levels of drought ranging from moderate to extreme, the fuels are dry and could be easily ignited. Vegetation fires could spread very rapidly and be difficult to suppress.
Multiple large fires broke out in the Texas Panhandle, OK, and KS.
The west side of Ellis KS got evacuated and wind gusts in the area were measured to 100 mph. Guymon, OK had evacs also as did Sheridan county KS, Skellytown, TX, etc. Several fire warnings were issued. I saw measured gusts at 10 meters at work of 71. 60 mph.