A Red Flag Warning will be in effect for all of the Texas Panhandle later today. The most dangerous fire weather conditions are expected from 11 AM to 8 PM today as record heat combines with strong southwest winds. Relative humidity values will plummet into the single digits to around ten percent. Nearly all the ingredients will be in place this afternoon for a dangerous fire weather event. Warm temperatures over the past week have allowed for surface fuels to dry out. Today’s record high temperatures along with strong southwest winds will quickly dry out surface fuels. Any outdoor fires that get started will have the potential for rapidly spread and become uncontrollable within minutes. Any prescribed outdoor burning in the Texas Panhandle should be postponed until later this week when wet conditions return. Elevated fire weather conditions will exist today across the South Plains and Northwest Texas where outdoor burning is also strongly discouraged.

… Red flag warning remains in effect from 11 am this morning to
8 PM CDT this evening for strong winds and low relative humidity
for the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles…

* affected area… in Oklahoma… Cimarron… Texas and Beaver. In
Texas… Dallam… Sherman… Hansford… Ochiltree… Lipscomb…
Hartley… Moore… Hutchinson… Roberts… Hemphill… Oldham…
Potter… Carson… gray… Wheeler… Deaf Smith… Randall…
Armstrong… Donley and Collingsworth.

* 20 foot winds… southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts near 30 mph.

* Relative humidity… 9 to 15 percent.

* Timing… critical fire weather conditions are expected to begin
around 11 am this morning and should end by 8 PM this evening.

Precautionary/preparedness actions…

A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now… or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds… low relative humidity… and warm temperatures will
create favorable weather for rapid fire growth and spread. Avoid
activities that promote open flames and Sparks.