It’s another cool morning but like yesterday temperatures will quickly warm up today. Effective mixing and downslope will create very windy conditions across the Texas Panhandle, South Plains, and Northwest Texas by late morning.

Combined with warm temperatures, low humidity values, and gusty winds there is definitely a significant threat for wildfires today. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the southern Panhandle, South Plains, Rolling Plains, and Northwest Texas where local firefighters should prepare for fast-moving grass fires. Elsewhere across Texas winds will be lighter but with continued drought conditions and the recent cold weather most vegetation is dormant and thus will also support elevated grass fire danger. This isn’t anything unusual for the winter season but those in the Panhandle into Northwest Texas could face more significant issues with strong southwest winds.

Temperatures will climb into the lower to upper 60s across all of Texas today. Southwest winds up to 45 MPH will impact the Texas Panhandle southeast into Northwest Texas. Winds will be in the 10-20 MPH range elsewhere into Central Texas with only a light breeze in South Texas. Skies will be mostly clear across all of Texas where partly cloudy skies in Deep South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.

Like last night we’ll see things cool off rather quickly after sunset. Most folks will see low temperatures tonight within a few degrees of this morning. I do want to point out we are using a new display software for our graphics this morning. I hope you like it but it does have a few kinks to work out. One such kink is the low temperature number for Austin. I don’t believe we’re going to see Austin drop down to 29F this morning but will see upper 30s instead. Winds will quickly diminish around sunset and another nice evening is in store.