Red Flag Warning Issued for North and Central Texas Due to Critical Fire Weather Conditions

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a Red Flag Warning for near-critical to critical fire weather conditions. This alert replaces the previously issued Fire Weather Watch and signifies that extreme fire behavior is expected due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry vegetation.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad portion of North and Central Texas, specifically targeting areas near and west of Interstate 35 and Highway 281. Affected counties include:

• North Texas: Montague, Cooke, Young, Jack, Wise, Denton, Stephens, Palo Pinto, Parker, Tarrant, Dallas, Eastland, Erath, Hood, Somervell, Johnson, and Ellis.
• Central Texas: Comanche, Mills, Hamilton, Bosque, Hill, Lampasas, Coryell, Bell, McLennan, Falls, and Milam.

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area are urged to take the following precautions to prevent wildfire ignition:

• Avoid all outdoor burning and welding activities.
• Do not toss lit cigarette butts outside.
• Report any wildfires immediately to the nearest fire department or law enforcement office.
• Be aware that any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly under these conditions.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: Northwest winds between 25 to 35 mph, with gusts reaching 40 to 50 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 19 percent.
• Temperatures: High temperatures are forecast to reach up to 87 degrees.
• Highest Threat Area: The most critical conditions are located near and west of Highway 281.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM CDT on Sunday, March 15. Conditions are expected to be most hazardous during the afternoon and early evening hours.