Red Flag Warning Issued for South Plains and Southern Texas Panhandle Through Tuesday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Lubbock TX has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions. This alert is effective from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM CST on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Additionally, a Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for Wednesday.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the South Plains, the far southern Texas Panhandle, and portions of the northern Rolling Plains. Specific counties include:

• Parmer, Castro, Swisher, Briscoe, Hall, and Childress
• Bailey, Lamb, Hale, Floyd, Motley, and Cottle
• Cochran, Hockley, Lubbock, Crosby, Yoakum, Terry, and Lynn

What You Should Do

Residents are advised that any fires that develop can spread rapidly under these conditions. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. Residents should prepare for extreme fire behavior and stay tuned to local forecasts for updates regarding the subsequent Fire Weather Watch on Wednesday.

Expected Conditions

• Tuesday Winds: Southwest winds between 30 to 45 mph, with gusts reaching up to 65 mph.
• Tuesday Humidity: Relative humidity levels as low as 13 percent.
• Wednesday Winds: Southwest winds at 25 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph.
• Wednesday Humidity: Relative humidity levels as low as 10 percent.
• Fuels: Vegetation and fuels in the area are reported as normal to dry.

Timeline

• Red Flag Warning: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM CST, Tuesday, February 17.
• Fire Weather Watch: Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening, February 18.