Red Flag Warning Issued for West Texas and Southeast New Mexico Through Friday Evening

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity. This alert signifies that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent, driven by a combination of strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts several regions across West Texas and Southeast New Mexico, including:

• Texas: Gaines, Andrews, Loving, and Reeves County Plains, Northwest Permian Basin, Davis Mountains, Marfa Plateau, and Eastern Culberson County.
• Regional: New Mexico Plains, Guadalupe, and Sacramento mountains.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised that any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. Residents should take necessary precautions to prevent sparks and monitor local weather updates for changing conditions.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: Southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph are expected, with gusts reaching as high as 35 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are forecast to drop as low as 6 percent.
• Fire Danger: High fire danger is present due to dry fuels. The Red Flag Threat Index (RFTI) is rated at 3 to 4, which is considered near critical.

Timeline

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 8:00 PM CST today, March 5. A new warning period has been established from 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST on Friday, March 6.