[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfkj8PI-K-4?hl=en&fs=1&w=425&h=349]

DRY WARM FIRE WEATHER: The weather over the next few days will be dry, warm and seeing the risks of fires across especially the central and western parts of the state. Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches are in effect across the western counties of the state. Other areas in the central and eastern counties also need to take care of any fires as well. Temperatures will rise into the upper 70s to mid 80s (with readings possibly approaching 90 once more across the far west). Dew Points will be quite low (in the 20s and 30s), leading to relative humidity of around 15-25% This will elevate the risk of fires especially from farm equipment out in the field harvesting crops. One field fire in Humboldt County alone proves the risk.

RAIN CHANCES: Rain chances begin to increase slowly around Thursday across the Loess Hills with a slow moving storm system that will mainly bypass the state to the north. The western and northwestern counties will see about a 20-30% crack at rainfall Thursday and Friday with the rain chances moving eastward slowly with time into the weekend. The rain will stay mainly west of I-35 throughout most of the weekend with chances at 20%. The front begins to dissolve early next week as the rain moves to the eastern counties, but more moisture makes its way back into the storm system by mid-week.

COLD SNAP: The cold snap is back on the board again, along with the slightest chance of seeing some flurry activity across the area. A system around two weeks out could bring some very cold air into the state as the 540 line drops well south of the state. We may see highs in the upper 30s to lower 40s with nighttime readings in the 20s (leading to a killing freeze statewide), of course this has been on and off the board over the last week, and this is the first time it’s been seen back on again. We’re just looking for trends out this far in advance.