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

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa TX has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity. This alert indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent in the warning area. A Fire Weather Watch has also been issued for the following day.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad region including:

• Loving County
• Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor
• Eastern Culberson County
• Reeves County Plains
• Chinati Mountains
• Marfa Plateau
• Davis Mountains and Davis Mountains Foothills
• Gaines County
• Southeast New Mexico Plains
• Upper Trans Pecos

What You Should Do

A Red Flag Warning means that a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures will increase the potential for rapid fire growth. Residents in these areas should exercise extreme caution with any activities that could cause a spark. Additionally, a Fire Weather Watch is in effect for Wednesday; residents should continue to monitor local forecasts for updates and potential extensions of the warning.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: West winds between 25 to 35 mph, with gusts reaching up to 50 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 12 to 15 percent.
• Fire Environment: The fire environment is currently rated at 5 out of 10, with fuels (ERC) in the 50th-69th percentile.
• RFTI: Values are forecast between 4 and 5, indicating near-critical conditions.

Timeline

• Red Flag Warning: Effective from 11:00 AM CST (10:00 AM MST) on Tuesday, February 17, until 8:00 PM CST (7:00 PM MST) Tuesday evening.
• Fire Weather Watch: Effective from Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening for continued wind and low relative humidity.