Red Flag Warning Issued for Deep South Texas

The National Weather Service in Brownsville has issued a Red Flag Warning for Deep South Texas, effective from Sunday night through Monday evening. A combination of strong winds and low relative humidity is expected to create critical fire weather conditions across the region.

Alert Details

The Red Flag Warning was issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) Brownsville TX. This alert replaces the previous Fire Weather Watch and signifies that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or imminent. The alert level is classified as severe by the issuing agency.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad portion of Deep South Texas, excluding the barrier islands. Affected regions include:

• Zapata, Jim Hogg, Brooks, and Starr counties
• Northern and Southern Hidalgo counties
• Inland and Coastal portions of Kenedy, Willacy, and Cameron counties

What You Should Do

Residents are strongly advised that outdoor burning is not recommended during this period. Any fire that develops is likely to catch and spread quickly. The NWS urges residents to prepare for extreme fire behavior, as the combination of warm temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds creates a dangerous environment.

Expected Conditions

A strong cold front arriving Sunday night will bring significant changes to the local environment:

• Winds: Northerly winds between 20 to 30 mph are expected, with gusts reaching as high as 35 to 45 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Values are forecast to drop as low as 10 to 40 percent.
• Fuel Conditions: Fire risks are heightened by abundant cured fuels and an ongoing D2 to D4 (Severe to Exceptional) drought across the region.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is scheduled to go into effect at 10:00 PM CDT on Sunday, March 15. The alert is currently set to expire at 7:00 PM CDT on Monday, March 16.