Windy, dry conditions to prompt fire risk in the central US

The combination of dry conditions and gusty winds will raise the risk for wildfires to start and spread across the Plains this week.

Persistent dry weather, gusty winds and little to no precipitation in sight will raise the risk for wildfires across the Plains through the rest of March, AccuWeather meteorologists say. The fire risk can even remain elevated through the remainder of spring across the region.

Limited rain to keep Plains at risk through the end of March

The core of the warmth will shift farther east this week, focusing across much of the central and eastern U.S. At the same time, much of the Plains will still be in a prolonged stretch of below-average precipitation.

"The risk for wildfire activity across the Plains will remain elevated until meaningful precipitation can move through the area," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. "Unfortunately, there is little to no precipitation expected through the end of March."

The lack of precipitation can persist into the start of April for many in the region, as storms are expected to set up farther east from Oklahoma and eastern Texas to New England in early April.

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Through the rest of spring, the fire risk can remain moderate to high across portions of the Plains ahead of vegetation greening up.

"The western halves of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and eastern Colorado will likely face a moderate to high risk for wildfire activity through the remainder of the spring season, particularly during windy periods preceding green-up," Buckingham explained.

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