Ticker for February 13, 2019

                
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February 13, 2019  February 13, 2019  February 13, 2019  February 13, 2019


Fire...FIRE!




Yes, it's that time of year again when the heat runs high, keep feeling
fascination, passion burning, love so strong. NO WAIT! Not another bad 80s pop
song interlude (sorry Human League fans...and youngsters, google). DARN YOU,
VALENTINE'S DAY! Nay, this time of year is for wildfires of the vegetation kind,
not the heart. And we're getting one of those perfect setups for fire danger
over the next couple of days.

Humidity is dropping (and will continue to drop),



drying, southwesterly winds are kicking up (and will continue to kick up),



and we're going to see above normal temperatures.





This is all in advance of a big bulge of cold air and a few storm systems
traveling through. Most of it will be much ado about nothing (but cold air).
Maybe some wintry precip Friday up north, but nothing major. However, enjoy
the heat, mild as it is, today and tomorrow. After that, the bottom drops out
through early next week.





Other than marauding fires and warmer temps, the only excitement on the horizon
is a chance of a winter storm early next week. Too early to say if that chance
is good or not so good, so just let it linger in the back of your mind so you
will check back later.

Nevertheless, the big news the next couple of days will be fire. Elevated-to-
critical fire weather out west, with a Red Flag Warning in the western Panhandle.



That part of the state needs a good wetting rain (or snow).



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