LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. — The turbulent weather of spring is hitting the Lake area full-force, with high winds causing an increased risk of fires, and a dip into freezing temperatures this weekend.
The National Weather Service says extremely high northwest winds will move across the Lake area from 1 – 7 p.m. on Thursday. Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected, with gusts of 35 to 45 mph. Winds could gust up to 50 mph late in the afternoon, the NWS warned. Drivers of large vehicles are warned to use extra caution.
Those high winds will also create a serious fire risk. The NWS has issued a Red Flag Warning, saying no one should burn today. A combination of humidity in the 15 to 25 percent range, with gusty winds means natural cover fires will spread quickly.
Thursday night, temperatures are expected to dip to 39 degrees, with a high of 59 on Friday. But Friday night’s low is forecast to be 32 degrees, so plants sensitive to frost or freeze should be brought inside or covered. Saturday’s high is 57, and warmer temperatures are expected to accompany showers and thunderstorms on Sunday and Monday.
