Red Flag Warning Issued for Western North Texas and Central Oklahoma

The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a Red Flag Warning for Sunday afternoon and early evening, covering western North Texas and a significant portion of western and central Oklahoma. This warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are imminent or occurring.

Alert Details

• Alert Type: Red Flag Warning (RFWOUN)
• Issuing Agency: National Weather Service Norman OK
• Effective Period: Sunday, March 15, from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM CDT

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the following regions:

• Oklahoma: Harper, Woods, Alfalfa, Ellis, Woodward, Major, Roger Mills, Dewey, Custer, Blaine, Kingfisher, Logan, Beckham, Washita, Caddo, Canadian, Oklahoma, Grady, McClain, Cleveland, Harmon, Greer, Kiowa, Jackson, Tillman, Comanche, Stephens, Garvin, Murray, Cotton, Jefferson, Carter, and Love counties.
• Texas: Hardeman, Foard, Wilbarger, Wichita, Knox, Baylor, Archer, and Clay counties.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas should exercise extreme caution and prepare for hazardous conditions. Outdoor burning is strictly not recommended, as any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. A Red Flag Warning means that a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures will contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: North winds sustained at 30 to 40 mph, with powerful gusts reaching up to 65 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 15 to 25 percent.
• Temperatures: Highs will range from the 60s to mid-70s, with temperatures falling throughout the day.
• Fire Environment: The fire environment is rated at a 7 out of 10, with fuels in the 70th-89th percentile and weather conditions rated at a 3 out of 5.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is in effect starting at 12:00 PM CDT on Sunday, March 15, and is scheduled to expire at 7:00 PM CDT the same day. This alert replaces the previously issued Fire Weather Watch for the region.