Alva Review-Courier -

A governor’s burn ban for 52 counties was set to expire today, March 2. Although the ban will be lifted on the majority of the counties, 16 counties will continue under the ban on outdoor burning until further notice. Those counties are Beaver, Beckham, Cimarron, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, Kiowa, Roger Mills, Texas, Washita, Woods and Woodward.

For more information on the burn ban area and the rules governing outdoor burning, see the map and related material posted on the Oklahoma Forestry Services website.

Like many of Oklahoma’s western counties, Woods County has experienced an extreme lack of rainfall in recent months. No rainfall was recorded in Alva in January, and only 0.34 inches was recorded in February by the Oklahoma Mesonet. Last year, Alva had 2.88 inches in January and 0.37 inches in February.

Hopefully March will bring rainfall. During the last three years, Alva received over four inches of rain during March, according to the Mesonet. Last year, the highest monthly rainfall was received in May with 5.69 total followed by 4.80 in March and 4.69 in August.