Red Flag Warning Issued for South Plains and Texas Panhandle Through Sunday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Lubbock has issued a Red Flag Warning for the far southern Texas Panhandle, South Plains, and Rolling Plains. This alert indicates that critical fire weather conditions are imminent or occurring due to a combination of strong winds and low relative humidity.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following counties in Texas:

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

Expected Conditions

Dangerous fire weather conditions are expected based on the following forecast details:

• Wind: Northwest winds shifting to the north at 35 to 45 mph, with gusts reaching up to 65 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 15 percent.
• Fuels: Ground fuels in the region are currently classified as critically dry.

What You Should Do

A Red Flag Warning means that extreme fire behavior is possible. Residents in the affected areas should take the following precautions:

• Outdoor burning is discouraged: Any fires that develop under these conditions can spread rapidly and become uncontrollable.
• Exercise Caution: Avoid activities that involve open flames or sparks near dry vegetation.
• Preparation: Be prepared for rapidly changing conditions and follow any instructions from local emergency management.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM CDT on Sunday, March 15. This alert replaces the previously issued Fire Weather Watch.