A red flag warning is in place across the area Friday as a strong storm system approaches.
K-State meteorologist Chip Redmond says a “bomb cyclone” will elevate the risk for fires developing throughout the region.
“That combination of 60 plus mile per hour winds and that low humidity can result in significant fire activity,” he said. “We could have fires blow up very fast.”
Redmond says strong southwesterly winds will shift to a northwesterly flow as a cold front moves in Friday night through Saturday, creating additional fire weather concerns Saturday.
“That wind shift also becomes a very big problem because a fire can make a run. It’s not unusual to see a fire run 20 miles in these kind of conditions,” he said.
Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday issued a verbal state of disaster emergency proclamation due to the increased fire weather conditions. The declaration allows resources to be used to provide state assistance.
The incoming system could bring significant severe weather to the Mississippi River valley this weekend. The severe threat remains low for the Manhattan area.
