Red Flag Warning Issued for Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles Due to Critical Fire Conditions

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Amarillo has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles. The alert is triggered by a combination of breezy winds and low relative humidity levels, creating conditions favorable for rapid fire growth.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad geographic area including:

• Oklahoma: Cimarron, Texas, and Beaver counties.
• Texas: Dallam, Sherman, Hansford, Ochiltree, Lipscomb, Hartley, Moore, Hutchinson, Roberts, Hemphill, Oldham, Potter, Carson, Gray, Wheeler, Deaf Smith, Randall, Armstrong, Donley, and Collingsworth counties, as well as Palo Duro Canyon.

What You Should Do

Residents are urged to avoid any activities that promote open flames or sparks. Outdoor burning is strictly not recommended during this period. A Red Flag Warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. Residents should prepare for the possibility of rapid fire spread if an ignition occurs.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: Southwest winds between 20.0 and 35.0 mph are expected, with gusts reaching up to 45.0 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are forecast to drop as low as 8 percent.
• Fire Environment: The National Weather Service classifies the fire environment at a 6 out of 10, with fuels in the 70th to 89th percentile.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon to 8:00 PM CDT on Thursday, March 12, 2026.