Red Flag Warning Issued for South Plains and Southern Texas Panhandle Through Friday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Lubbock has issued a Red Flag Warning for the far southern Texas Panhandle, the South Plains, and western portions of the Rolling Plains. This alert indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either currently occurring or are imminent due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following Texas counties:

• Parmer
• Castro
• Swisher
• Briscoe
• Bailey
• Lamb
• Hale
• Floyd
• Cochran
• Hockley
• Lubbock
• Crosby

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are strongly discouraged from any outdoor burning. Any fires that develop under these conditions can spread rapidly and exhibit extreme behavior. Residents should remain vigilant and prepare for potential fire hazards.

Expected Conditions

The region is experiencing hazardous fire weather conditions characterized by the following:

• Winds (Today): West-northwest at 30 to 40 mph with gusts reaching 50 mph.
• Winds (Friday): Initially southwest at 20 to 30 mph, shifting to the west at 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 55 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 10 percent today and 12 percent on Friday.
• Fuels: Vegetation and other fuels in the area are reported as dry.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is currently in effect and will remain active until 7:00 PM CST this evening, February 19. A second window for the warning is scheduled for Friday, February 20, from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM CST.