Ticker for February 6, 2017

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
February 6, 2017   February 6, 2017   February 6, 2017   February 6, 2017


I can't see the fire for the fog




Fog then fire. Riiiighhhhttttt. But yes, that can and often does happen during
the primo fire season from early February through the green up of sometime in
April. And drought or no drought (although the drought certainly isn't helping).
Because day-to-day weather conditions are what's the most important factor in
the cool season since most of your fuel is naturally dormant or dead. Sort of
like the mood in Atlanta today. So when you get a couple of days like today and
tomorrow with near-record highs rising into the 70s and 80s, strong winds and
low humidity (eventually, following the fog), your gonna have problems.








And the storm system that's kicking up these southerly winds could also kick
off (SUPER BOWL THEME...EXHAUSTED) a few severe storm later tonight across SE
OK.




Unfortunately, the thing making this whole situation worse, the drought, is
not getting any better anytime soon. The drought has "cured" a lot of those
bigger fuel sources. Rain chances this week are slim, and even though there is
a bit of moisture showing up on the horizon (the weekend, of course), there's
no telling if it will be significant or not just yet.



Don't look now, but we're turning yeller, on our way to orange!



Gary McManus
State Climatologist
Oklahoma Mesonet
Oklahoma Climatological Survey
(405) 325-2253
gmcmanus@mesonet.org