RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS
EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT...

FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
* IN OKLAHOMA...OTTAWA...OSAGE...CRAIG...NOWATA...PAWNEE AND
   WASHINGTON.



HAZARDOUS WEATHER...

* RELATIVE HUMIDITIES VALUES OF 20 TO 25 PERCENT.

* SOUTH WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS 25 TO 30 MPH.

* FIRE SPREAD INDEX VALUES OF 50 TO 60.

IMPACTS...
* ANY FIRES WILL QUICKLY SPREAD OUT OF CONTROL AND ENDANGER
   LIVES AND PROPERTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
* DISPOSE OF CIGARETTES PROPERLY AND AVOID ACTIVITIES THAT
   COULD START FIRES.

* STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO OR
   TELEVISION FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS WEATHER
   EVENT. ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT:
   WEATHER.GOV/TULSA.

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
* IN OKLAHOMA...WASHINGTON...OSAGE...CRAIG...NOWATA...PAWNEE...
   OTTAWA...ROGERS AND MAYES.


HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES OF 20 TO 25 PERCENT ACROSS NORTHEAST
   OKLAHOMA.

* SOUTH WINDS OF 10 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR WITH HIGHER GUST.

* SPREAD INDEX VALUES OF 50 TO 60.

IMPACTS...
* FIRES WILL SPREAD QUICKLY AND MAKE SUPPRESSION EFFORTS DIFFICULT
   AT BEST. FIRES MAY ENDANGER LIVES AND PROPERTY.

DEFINITION...
* A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT A DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF
   WEATHER CONDITIONS AND DRY VEGETATION IS EXPECTED...
   FAVORING RAPID GROWTH AND SPREAD OF ANY WILDFIRES.
   THE PRIMARY WEATHER FACTORS INCLUDE WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
* DISPOSE OF CIGARETTES PROPERLY AND AVOID ACTIVITIES THAT
   COULD START FIRES.

* STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO OR
   TELEVISION FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS WEATHER
   EVENT. ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT:
   WEATHER.GOV/TULSA.

There is a chance of severe weather today mainly after 11:00AM across all of NE Oklahoma, especially east of highway 169. Damaging downburst winds and hail to the size of golfballs are the primary threats.

Here is the SPC risk map for today:

This isn't technically weather related but certainly an issue of outdoor safety and something I know from experience you don't want to mess around with.

Public Health Officials Urge Oklahomans to “fight the bite”

The Oklahoma State Department of Health warned all Oklahomans today to do what they can to avoid mosquito bites or face increased risk of West Nile virus. At least one death has now been reported and 24 new cases of WNV have been confirmed in Oklahoma in the past week.

“Prevention is the key to protection,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Terry Cline. “One bite from an infected mosquito can lead to a severe and possibly life-altering illness. We urge everyone to use insect repellent when outdoors and to mosquito-proof their home as best possible.”

Healthy, active adults who are 50 and older have the highest risk of illness caused by WNV. That’s certainly true in Oklahoma, where most cases have occurred in persons over 40 and have been neuroinvasive WNV disease, the most severe form of WNV infection that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

While persons who work outdoors in occupations like farming or construction are at risk of getting bitten by an infected mosquito, most Oklahomans with WNV disease believe they were exposed to mosquitoes and WNV while doing activities around their residence, like working in their yards, tending flower beds or relaxing on the patio.

Thus far this year, 55 cases of WNV disease have been confirmed in Oklahomans from 14 counties. The counties with the highest numbers of cases include Tulsa (14), Oklahoma (12), Carter (9), Pittsburg (7), Muskogee (3), and Garfield (2). The age range of cases is 12 to 90 years. Since WNV activity in Oklahoma often does not peak until September or early October, more cases are expected.

Illness associated with WNV ranges from no symptoms at all to milder “West Nile Fever” symptoms to serious neurologic disease. Symptoms of West Nile Fever include sudden onset of fever, headache, nausea, dizziness, and muscle weakness. Sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash are also present with West Nile Fever. Symptoms of serious neurologic WNV disease can progress quickly and may include high fever, headache, stiff neck, mental confusion or disorientation, numbness, convulsions, and coma. A polio-type paralysis of an arm or leg may also be caused by WNV. Some of the neurological effects of WNV may be permanent or fatal. Persons should seek medical attention if any of these symptoms develop, especially within two weeks after mosquito bites.

Oklahomans are urged to “fight the bite” and take the following precautions to protect themselves against mosquito bites:

• Use an insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin and clothing when you go outdoors. (Insect repellent with permethrin should be used on clothing only.)
• Place mosquito repellent in a handy and visible location in the home for easy access.
• Repair or install window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
• Prevent items such as buckets, cans, flower pots, and tires from holding standing water so mosquitoes don’t have a place to breed.
• Empty, clean and refill your bird baths and pet’s outdoor water bowl daily.
• Clean leaves and debris from rain gutters regularly to ensure they are not clogged.

For more information on WNV, including prevention, visit http://ads.health.ok.gov and click on “Disease Information” then “West Nile Virus.”

There is a slight risk of severeweather along the Kansas border this evening after 6:00.
Elsewhere in NE, there is a slight chance of thunderstorms this evening mainly north of I-44.

Here is ths SPC risk map for today:

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING...

FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
* IN OKLAHOMA...CHEROKEE AND DELAWARE.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
* CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS MUCH OF
   NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA BY MID MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE
   AFTERNOON HOURS.

* LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES OF 15 TO 25 PERCENT.

* SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 30
   MPH.

IMPACTS...
* ANY FIRES WILL QUICKLY SPREAD OUT OF CONTROL AND ENDANGER
   LIVES AND PROPERTY.

DEFINITION...
* A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT A DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF
   WEATHER CONDITIONS AND DRY VEGETATION IS EXPECTED WITHIN 24
   HOURS...FAVORING RAPID GROWTH AND SPREAD OF ANY WILDFIRES.
   THE PRIMARY WEATHER FACTORS INCLUDE STRONGER WINDS...LOWER
   HUMIDITIES...AND WARMER TEMPERATURES.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH
SATURDAY EVENING...

FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
* IN OKLAHOMA...WAGONER...OTTAWA...ROGERS...PAWNEE...
   WASHINGTON...OSAGE...CRAIG...NOWATA...CREEK...OKFUSKEE...
   MCINTOSH...MUSKOGEE...TULSA...OKMULGEE AND MAYES.



HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
* SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH GUSTS 25 TO 30
   MPH ACROSS NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA FROM MID MORNING THROUGH AT LEAST
   MID AFTERNOON. WINDS SHOULD BACK OFF LATE IN THE AFTERNOON AND
   INTO THE EVENING AS THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY REACHES OR PUSHES JUST
   SOUTH OF THE KANSAS BORDER. THE WINDS...VERY DRY AIR...AND VERY
   HOT TEMPERATURES WILL POTENTIALLY YIELD CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
   CONDITIONS DURING THE DAY SATURDAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AS LOW AS 13.0 PERCENT

* STRONG WIND GUSTS 25 TO 30 MPH

IMPACTS...
* THE PURPOSE OF FIRE WEATHER WATCHES AND RED FLAG WARNINGS ARE
   TO ALERT LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES OF DEVELOPING WEATHER
   CONDITIONS THAT...WHEN COMBINED WITH CRITICALLY DRY WILDLAND
   FUELS...COULD LEAD TO DANGEROUS WILDFIRES. TIMELY AND
   ACCURATE WATCHES AND WARNINGS ENABLE FIRE FIGHTING AGENCIES
   TO MANAGE RESOURCES AND PREPARE APPROPRIATE SUPPRESSION
   RESPONSES FOR PROTECTING LIFE AND PROPERTY.

DEFINITION...
* A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
   CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
* LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE RED FLAG WARNINGS.

* STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO OR
   TELEVISION FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS WEATHER
   EVENT. ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT:
   WEATHER.GOV/TULSA.

Hopefully you were one of the few that got a little rain last night and this morning and hopefully we have another shot at some rain this evening and on Sunday!

Regardless, be careful out there! It's HOT HOT HOT!

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ADJUSTED THE TIMING OF
THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING AND IT IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT
SATURDAY...

FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

* IN OKLAHOMA...CHEROKEE...ADAIR...CREEK...OKFUSKEE...OKMULGEE...
   WAGONER...TULSA...ROGERS...MAYES...DELAWARE...PAWNEE...OTTAWA...
   WASHINGTON...OSAGE...CRAIG...NOWATA...PITTSBURG...SEQUOYAH...
   MCINTOSH...MUSKOGEE AND HASKELL.

   IN ARKANSAS...WASHINGTON...CRAWFORD...BENTON AND SEBASTIAN.



HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
* DANGEROUS AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES IN THE 105 TO 115 DEGREE RANGE
   ARE EXPECTED TODAY AND SATURDAY AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT.
   OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL REMAIN VERY WARM AND WILL PROVIDE LITTLE
   IF ANY RELIEF FROM THE HEAT.

IMPACTS...
* THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL
   COMBINE TO CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES
   ARE POSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
* TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN
   POSSIBLE...RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR
   EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT
   STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN
   POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.

* TO REDUCE RISK DURING
   OUTDOOR WORK THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
   RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR
   CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE
   MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN
   EMERGENCY...CALL 911.

* STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
   FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS WEATHER EVENT.
   ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT:
   WEATHER.GOV/TULSA.