The National Weather Service’s (NWS) Austin/San Antonio office today issued a Red Flag Warning from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday for the Canyon Lake area.
The warning is due to 15- to 25-mph winds with gusts up to 35 mph and relative humidity as low as 10%.
Any wildfires could spread rapidly and unpredictably.
NWS said a Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. Strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Lee, Fayette and Lavaca counties are not included in the watch area.
A wind advisory also was issued from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. North winds of 20 to 25 mph are expected, with gusts up to 40 mph. The wind advisory followed the Red Flag Warning.
NWS said gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects and small tree limbs could be blown down. Driving on area roadways could become difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.
According to Lone Star State Incident Management Team-Texas A&M Forest Service, wildfire activity is expected to gradually increase throughout the week as periodic critical fire weather occurs where very dry vegetation is present across West and South Texas.
On Tuesday, critical fire weather and above normal temperatures will support the potential for large wildfires that are resistant to firefighters’ suppression efforts near Amarillo, Lubbock, Childress, Sweetwater, San Angelo and Ozona where grasses are critically dry.
Large wildfires are likely on Wednesday in South Texas, where critically dry to extremely dry fuel will be exposed to above-normal temperatures and critical fire weather. Critically dry vegetation in the Eastern and Western Hill Country may also support wildfire ignitions on Wednesday.
