CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER WARNING: Wildfires remain a risk for today and tomorrow across Big Country

Spring winds are typical for this time of year, but with the lack of rain, it’s making things worse for our ongoing flash drought and fire weather. The dry conditions have created the perfect storm for wildfires, with fuels primed for uncontrolled burning. Let’s dive into the details.

Over the next several days, and potentially longer if rain stays out of the forecast, fire weather concerns will remain high. Low humidity and gusty westerly winds, gusting up to 40 to 50 mph (and even higher in some areas), will fuel the risk of wildfires.

For today, most of West Texas and the Big Country are under a Red Flag Warning, set to expire tonight at 11 pm. However, this could be extended if conditions remain critical. Winds today will gust up to 30 mph, and with humidity staying low, it’s crucial to do everything we can to prevent wildfires.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, the Big Country will be under a fire weather watch, with winds from the west sustained at 20-30 mph, gusting up to 40 mph. Blowing dust is likely, and low humidity will persist. If you spot a fire, report it immediately—wildfires in these conditions can be tough to control.

The Texas A&M Forest Service has issued a forecast for the next couple of days, placing much of the Big Country under an extreme fire weather watch. Winds will pick up heading into Tuesday and Wednesday, combining with dry conditions to make fire control even more challenging. According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, extreme fire weather is defined as: “Fires start quickly, spread rapidly, and burn intensely. All fires are potentially serious, and they can escalate faster and from smaller sparks than in high fire danger conditions. Direct attack is rarely possible and can be dangerous except immediately after ignition. Fires in heavy slash or conifer stands can become unmanageable during extreme conditions. In these cases, the only effective control actions are along the flanks until conditions improve.”

Their findings align with their fire danger criteria, which describe the combination of factors that influence the initiation, spread, and difficulty of controlling wildfires. The risk will remain for the foreseeable future as long as conditions stay dry, and rain keeps avoiding us. The best way to prevent human-made wildfires is to follow all safety guidance and encourage others to do the same.