Red Flag Warning Issued for Van Horn Corridor and Marfa Plateau Due to Critical Fire Danger
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
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The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for West Texas and Southeast New Mexico as high winds and low humidity create conditions for rapid fire spread.
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- Record type
- Red Flag Warning
- Affected area
- West Texas and Southeast New Mexico
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Midland/Odessa
Fire-weather notices describe conditions that can support rapid fire spread; they do not report that a fire is present. Check local emergency sources for any active incident.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa TX has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect from 11:00 AM CST this morning through 8:00 PM CST this evening. This alert is issued when critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or imminent.
Affected Areas
The warning covers a broad region including:
- Texas: Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor, Chinati Mountains, Marfa Plateau, Upper Trans Pecos, Northern Permian Basin, and the Davis Mountains.
- New Mexico: Southeast New Mexico.
What You Should Do
Residents in the affected areas are urged to take the following precautions:
- Discourage Outdoor Burning: Any fires that develop under these conditions can spread rapidly and become difficult to control.
- Exercise Caution: Avoid activities that could produce sparks or flames near dry vegetation.
- Prepare: Be ready to respond if a wildfire starts in your vicinity.
Expected Conditions
Weather conditions are expected to reach critical thresholds for fire growth:
- Winds: West winds of 20 to 30 mph at the 20-foot level, with gusts reaching up to 50 mph.
- Humidity: Relative humidity levels are forecast to drop as low as 9 percent.
- Fire Environment: The Red Flag Threat Index (RFTI) is rated between 5 and 7 (critical). Fuel dryness (ERC) is currently in the 50th-69th percentile.
Timeline
- Effective Period: Friday, February 20, 2026.
- Start Time: 11:00 AM CST (10:00 AM MST).
- Expiration: 8:00 PM CST (7:00 PM MST).
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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