Alert - Missouri Being Warned of an 'Elevated Fire Danger' Monday

Monday would not be a good day for a cookout near the woods in Missouri as the state is being warned of an 'elevated fire danger' due to three different conditions which will be present.

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This alert comes from the National Weather Service regarding Monday, April 17, 2023. Here's a graphic they shared in regards to Monday's wildfire danger.

National Weather Service, St. Louis

This bulletin seems to be directed more at the heavily-forested areas of southern Missouri where dry vegetation, strong winds and low humidity will combine into a scenario where fires could break out.

When you look at the forecast for Monday, there's an additional factor to be concerned about: lightning from thunderstorms. The green-shaded area shows where storms are likely to pop up.

NWS St. Louis

The National Interagency Fire Center shows thousands of wildfires that began with just a single lightning strike. Last year alone, there were over 7,400 wildfires that began this way.

It's odd that after a weekend of rain and storms, Monday will begin with the possibility of wildfires. Make sure to check out the National Weather Service daily Weather Story site for updates especially if you have a vacation and/or camping trip planned for the southern part of Missouri.

10 Tips To Prevent Wildfires

Smokey The Bear said it best, "only you can prevent wildfires." Well, it's a lot easier said than done, Smokey. Great name for a bear trying to warn us about fire hazards, by the way.

In order to prevent wildfires, you have to first know how they can be prevented. Here are 10 tips provided by the Department Of Interior that will help you in your every day life, so you can enjoy being outside, camping, and having bonfires without it turning into a problem.

Here are their 10 tips, along with some simplified explanations from me.