Red Flag Warning Issued for Southern Texas Panhandle and Northern South Plains
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for several Texas counties due to strong winds and low humidity, creating critical fire weather conditions on Thursday.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Lubbock has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect for the far southern Texas Panhandle, northern South Plains, and northern Rolling Plains. The alert was issued by NWS Lubbock TX and is effective for Thursday afternoon and evening.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the following counties in Texas:
- Parmer
- Castro
- Swisher
- Briscoe
- Hall
- Childress
- Bailey
- Lamb
- Hale
- Floyd
- Motley
- Cottle
What You Should Do
Residents in the affected areas are strongly discouraged from any outdoor burning. A Red Flag Warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent. The combination of environmental factors can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Residents should prepare for the possibility of rapidly spreading fires.
Expected Conditions
- Wind: Southwest winds between 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching up to 40 mph.
- Humidity: Relative humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 11 percent.
- Fuels: Vegetation and other fuels in the region are currently critically dry.
- Impacts: Any fires that develop under these conditions are likely to spread rapidly.
Timeline
The Red Flag Warning is specifically in effect on Thursday, March 12, from 12:00 PM (noon) until 8:00 PM CDT.
Source: NOAA Official Notice
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