Red Flag Warning Issued for Southeast Texas and Central/Southern Louisiana

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles, LA, has issued a Red Flag Warning (NWS Code: FWW) for critical fire weather conditions. This alert is triggered by a combination of strong, gusty winds and very low relative humidity following a cold front.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad area across Southeast Texas and Central and Southern Louisiana, including:

• Louisiana Parishes: Vernon, Rapides, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Allen, Evangeline, St. Landry, Lafayette, Upper St. Martin, Lower St. Martin, West Cameron, East Cameron, Northern Calcasieu, Northern Jefferson Davis, Northern Acadia, Upper Vermilion, Upper Iberia, Upper St. Mary, Southern Calcasieu, Southern Jefferson Davis, Southern Acadia, Lower Vermilion, Lower Iberia, and Lower St. Mary.
• Texas Counties: Tyler, Hardin, Northern Jasper, Northern Newton, Southern Jasper, Southern Newton, Upper Jefferson, Northern Orange, Lower Jefferson, and Southern Orange.

What You Should Do

Residents are strongly advised that outdoor burning is not recommended. Any fire that develops under these conditions will likely catch and spread quickly. A Red Flag Warning signifies that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: Northwest winds between 10 to 20 mph, with gusts reaching up to 30 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 21 percent.
• Temperatures: High temperatures are forecast to reach up to 56 degrees.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT on Monday, March 16. The alert was originally issued on March 15 at 11:58 AM CDT.