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

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa TX has issued a Red Flag Warning for Southeast New Mexico and West Texas. This alert indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or will shortly, driven by a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions and counties:

• Southeast New Mexico: Chaves County Plains, Eddy Plains, and Lea County.
• West Texas: Gaines, Dawson, Borden, Andrews, Martin, Howard, Loving, Eastern Culberson County, Reeves County Plains, Davis Mountains, and Davis Mountains Foothills.
• Regional Zones: Upper Trans Pecos, Permian Basin, Van Horn Corridor, and Marfa Plateau.

What You Should Do

Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged during this period. Any fires that develop can spread rapidly due to the critical weather conditions. Residents should prepare for high fire growth potential and monitor local conditions closely.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: 20-foot winds from the west at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching up to 50 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels as low as 9 percent.
• Fire Environment: The Red Flag Threat Index (RFTI) is at 6 (critical). Fuels in the area are reported as dry, with a fire environment rating of 5 out of 10.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 11:00 AM CST (10:00 AM MST) on Friday, February 20, 2026. The alert is scheduled to expire at 8:00 PM CST (7:00 PM MST) on Friday evening.