Record-breaking temps dry area out

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With little precipitation in the area and Saturday’s record-breaking temperatures in Dickinson expected to continue today, red flag warnings and fire bans remain in place for southwest North Dakota, officials say.

Dickinson’s high Saturday was 69, breaking the former record of 66, said Lindsay Tardif-Huber, National Weather Service meteorologist. With a forecast high of 82 today, the former record of 68 is likely to be shattered, she said.

A fire emergency and burn ban proclamation went into effect Friday, said Bill Fahlsing, Stark County emergency manager.

“The burn ban does include a burn ban on garbage burning, campfires and burning of farm or crop land,” he said. “We have had fires breaking out, but that’s unfortunately to be expected with this type of condition and this dry season.”

While residents may be used to bracing for flooding in the spring, Fahlsing and Cecily Fong, public information officer for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, say that’s unlikely this spring.

“I think you’re flood risk there is very low — slim to none,” Fong said. “The only thing that could change that is some sort of major precipitation event, but I don’t think you’re going to see that typical spring flood that maybe you saw last year.”

Although it’s dry, she said the area is not technically in a drought and a drought is not expected.

Temperatures are expected to dip this week and a thunderstorm Monday may even turn to snow, Tardif-Huber said.

“Our best chance will be Monday through Tuesday, we have a cold front moving through the area,” she said. “It looks like thunderstorms will start in the afternoon and then later in the overnight into Tuesday morning, far west it looks like it could be a mix of light snow and light rain.”

However, that may not be enough to lift fire bans and red flag warnings.

“I encourage all citizens to be aware of the conditions and if you are planning to burn, make sure you’re checking with the your local fire chief and making sure the burn ban either is or is not in effect,” Fahlsing said.

Tags: burn ban, news, weather, fire, dickinson, temperature, crop, flood, dry