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

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Lubbock has issued a Red Flag Warning due to critical fire weather conditions. This alert is issued when a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Additionally, a Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for the following day.

Affected Areas

The warning and watch cover the far southern Texas Panhandle, the South Plains, and the northern Rolling Plains. Specific counties affected include:

• Parmer, Castro, Swisher, Briscoe, Hall, Childress, Bailey, Lamb, Hale, Floyd, Motley, Cottle, Cochran, Hockley, Lubbock, and Crosby.

What You Should Do

Residents are advised that any fires that develop in these conditions can spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. Residents should stay informed by listening for later forecasts and potential updates to the warnings.

Expected Conditions

• Wednesday: Southwest winds are expected at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching up to 40 mph. Relative humidity is forecast to drop as low as 9 percent.
• Thursday: West winds are expected at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph. Relative humidity is forecast as low as 11 percent.
• Fuels: Surface fuels are currently reported as normal to dry.

Timeline

• Red Flag Warning: Effective Wednesday, February 18, from 11:00 AM CST until 7:00 PM CST.
• Fire Weather Watch: In effect from Thursday morning, February 19, through Thursday evening.