There is a higher than usual risk of wildfire through April in the central and southern Plains, said Kansas State University scientists and the National Interagency Coordination Center, which studies wildfire risks. The National Weather Service forecast for February through April calls for warmer than usual weather from Kansas through Texas and below-normal precipitation in the western half of the states that make up the central and southern Plains.
“Above-average large fire potential is predicted for February through April as a result of pre-green conditions and increasing warm, dry, and windy periods combining with areas of moderate to heavy fuel loading across the plains of southeastern Colorado, southern and western Kansas, and southwestern Nebraska,” said the interagency center. It also pointed to above-normal fire potential from the eastern plains of New Mexico into west Texas.
The Kansas Forest Service said that “the potential exists for large fires similar to what we have seen the last two years” as the state enters its driest period of the year.