Low relative humidity values (15-25%), breezy winds (15-20 mph, gusting 25 mph), and very dry fuels result in very high to extreme wildfire danger over western Missouri and eastern Kansas this afternoon. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for counties along the KS/MO border and into eastern Kansas from noon through 7 p.m. while a Special Weather Statement for very high fire danger has been issued for the same time as far east as Chillicothe and up to the Iowa border. Today will start off below freezing with wind chills in the upper teens, but will quickly rise into the mid-60s by the afternoon making it the nicest afternoon we’ve had all week. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 66. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 11 to 16 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 36. Southwest wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 65. East southeast wind 5 to 11 mph.
Thursday Night: Showers likely, mainly after 2 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 41. East wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Friday: Showers likely, mainly before 2 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 51. East southeast wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Friday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday: A chance of showers before 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Sunday: A chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday Night: Showers likely, mainly after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday: Showers likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Tuesday: A chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
This morning will feel cold, but it won’t last long as temperatures climb into the 50s by the afternoon with mostly clear skies. Wednesday will get even better, with low temperatures in the 40s and highs in the lower 60s, making it one of the nicest days in a long time. The warm up trend will continue into Thursday with highs in the upper 60s before rain chances return Thursday night. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
The first half of the work week will see average temperatures for this time of year with cooler mornings near freezing and high temperatures climbing up to near 50 in the afternoon. Wednesday afternoon winds will shift to the southwest, helping to warm the area up to near 60 over the western part of Missouri and mid 50s over central Missouri. This warming trend will continue Thursday with temperatures over western Missouri reaching near 70 and central Missouri reaching into the upper 60s. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Gusty northwest winds will pick up through the day. Winds will be 20 to 30 mph, with gusts in the 40 to 50 mph range. Given the dry grass and foliage across the area the strong winds and dry air will combine for very high fire danger. Any fire that ignites will likely spread very quickly. As a result, any outdoor burning is 
Windy conditions with low relative humidity will make for a high fire danger today (especially over eastern Kansas and western Missouri where little rain fell last night and winds will be strongest). Winds will be out of the southeast this morning but will shift to the west as a cold front moves through the area late this morning through early this afternoon. Expect winds to range between 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Any fire that does ignite will quickly burn out of control and as such, outdoor burning is discouraged. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service: 
