Red Flag Warning Issued for Texas Panhandle: High Winds and Low Humidity Create Critical Fire Risk

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Amarillo has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Texas Panhandle. This alert replaces the previous Fire Weather Watch as conditions have reached critical thresholds for fire danger.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the following counties and regions in Texas:

• Ochiltree
• Lipscomb
• Hutchinson
• Roberts
• Hemphill
• Oldham
• Potter
• Carson
• Gray
• Wheeler
• Deaf Smith
• Randall
• Armstrong
• Donley
• Collingsworth
• Palo Duro Canyon

What You Should Do

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. Residents should take the following precautions:

• Avoid all activities that involve open flames or could produce sparks.
• Outdoor burning is not recommended under any circumstances.
• Be prepared for rapid fire growth and spread if a fire starts.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: Strong north winds of 30 to 40 mph are expected, with gusts reaching as high as 65 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels will drop as low as 14 percent.
• Temperatures: Highs will be in the 40s and 50s, with temperatures expected to drop throughout the afternoon.
• Fire Hazard: The fire environment is rated at a 7 out of 10. Any fires that develop will have the potential to spread very rapidly, especially with a sudden wind shift expected Sunday morning.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM CDT on Sunday, March 15. The alert was officially issued by NWS Amarillo at 12:11 PM CDT on March 14.