Critical Fire Weather Alert Issued for Almost 1 Million People in Texas, Kansas [SPC]

Fire weather conditions have been reported increasing in some parts of the Great Plains this week. According to the Storm Prediction Center (SPC), the central and southern Plains of the United States are experiencing climatic and weather elements that are favorable for the eruption and spread of fires, including wildland fires.

As a result, the SPC on Thursday, October 12, issued a critical fire weather alert for almost 1 million people in the states of Texas and Kansas.

In recent years, the frequency of wildfires has increased in the Great Plains region, which includes Texas and Kansas. Earlier in 2023, both states reported wildfires in some areas that affected not only affected rural areas but also city outskirts. Previous wildland fires in the region were aggravated by hot and dry weather.

While some wildfires are linked to human activities, recent studies suggest climate change and global warming is to blame.

Critical Fire Weather Alert

The SPC on Thursday issued the critical fire weather alert in the region that covers some parts of Texas and Kansas, with a total area of 71,797 square miles and a population of 895,494 people.

The US weather agency highlights some of the following large population centers below considered to be wildfire risk areas:

• Dodge City, Kansas
• Great Bend, Kansas
• Liberal, Kansas
• Amarillo, Texas
• Pampa, Texas

Under the alert, there is an extreme intensification of fire weather conditions such as soil moisture, wind speed and direction, relative humidity increases wildfire risk, including fire growth and smoke dispersion.

US Wildfires

Wildfires can occur in different parts of the world, especially in countries along the tropical and subtropical regions. Related catastrophic events in the past saw the loss of life (both human and animals) and destruction of property. Since 2020, both Europe and Australia witnessed deadly wildfires which been compounded by fire weather conditions due to heatwaves and the El Niño climate pattern.

In the US alone, the scope and damage of wildfires have varied each year. Yet, the past decade in the country saw the annual average eruption of thousands of wildfires, burning millions of acres. In its September 2023 Wildfires Report, the NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) said 4,896 wildfires burned an area of 434,693 acres across the country.

Wildfire Safety Tips

Due to the threat of wildfires in the US, the SPC has been constantly issuing fire weather alerts, advisories, and warnings in different parts of the country, especially to allow local officials to gauge these disasters like a storm or hurricane weather forecast.

With this, the National Weather Service (NWS) provides the following wildfire safety tips:

• Avoid areas where you could be trapped by a wildfire.
• Avoid matches or any combustible objects, or substances that could ignite a fire.
• Ensure hot parts of motor equipment do not contact dry grasses or flammable material.
• When trapped by a fire, seek shelter at rock slide areas or lakes.