BELTON — Bell County’s burn ban will temporarily be lifted beginning Thursday, County Judge Jon Burrows announced Wednesday afternoon.
The burn ban will not be in effect beginning 7 a.m. Thursday through 8 p.m. Sunday. At that time on Sunday, the burn ban will be in effect.
Burrows cited recent rainfall, current anticipated weather and recommendations of local fire chiefs for shortly lifting the prohibition.
Forecasts from the National Weather Service show rain is in store for Bell County. The weather agency forecast anywhere between a 30 percent to 60 percent chance of rain from Wednesday through Tuesday.
The National Weather Service, as of Wednesday afternoon, had issued a hazardous weather outlook for Bell County for isolated to scattered thunderstorms with heavy rainfall.
Rain is sorely needed in Bell County. The entire county is experience a severe drought, according to the United States Drought monitor.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index measures the moisture depletion of an area. The higher the number, the drier the area is. On Wednesday, Bell County was measuring an average of 634 on the index. The highest the index goes is 800.
Although the burn ban will be lifted, other rules will stay in effect, Burrows said. Those include the prohibition against burning when wind speeds are predicted to be less than 6 mph or greater than 23 mph during the burn period.
The Commissioners Court will evaluate whether to extend or discontinue the burn ban at its Monday meeting.
Commented
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.