NWS meteorologist warns about extreme fire danger after Salina breaks 1896 high-temp record

Warm, dry, and windy conditions will drive the potential for elevated to critical fire weather conditions on Tues afternoon. <b>Graphic courtesy National Weather Service Wichita</b> — Warm, dry, and windy conditions will drive the potential for elevated to critical fire weather conditions on Tues afternoon. **Graphic courtesy National Weather Service Wichita**

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Salina Post

Cities across the state face an elevated risk of wildfires today due to extreme temperatures and high winds for this early in the year.

For Salina, yesterday's temperatures broke the 1896 record of 78 degrees by 2:34 p.m., and by 2:53 p.m., Salina Municipal Airport reported 81 degrees for the city.

"We were nearly 30 degrees above that yesterday, and we will be below that tomorrow," said Wichita National Weather Service Meteorologist Kelly Butler. "We have a high right now for 46 [on Wednesday]."

A strong cold front is expected to arrive in the afternoon, dropping temperatures for Wednesday with AM wind chills in single digits to lower teens. <b>Graphic courtesy National Weather Service Wichita</b> — A strong cold front is expected to arrive in the afternoon, dropping temperatures for Wednesday with AM wind chills in single digits to lower teens. **Graphic courtesy National Weather Service Wichita**

According to Butler, the record-high temperatures mixed with the winds of a cold front coming through north central Kansas made a recipe for dangerous wildfire conditions.

In town, forecasts show the temperature dropping to the mid-40s by this evening, with possible windchills in the single digits tomorrow morning.

"We're going to have rapidly dropping dew points likely as well, so we're still expecting a fire threat up there in Salina," Butler said. "You want to definitely be really careful with any open flames or anything that might cause a spark — cigarette butts, chains hanging down from a vehicle, anything like that."

Many performed prescribed burns yesterday due to the favorable weather conditions, light winds and warm air temperatures.

With today's high winds and 20- to 30-degree temperature departures from usual, Butler said some prescribed burns may rekindle into uncontrolled wildfires.

"In Kansas, people need to burn parts of their land for good reason, and there's only a certain number of days a year where that's a good time to do it," Butler said. "They know they won't be able to do it the next day."

Butler said forecasts show that after the dip in temperature tomorrow, the warming trend will start on Thursday and go into the weekend for high temperatures on Saturday and Sunday, hovering in the mid to upper 70s.