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Critical Fire Weather Expected Friday, NWS Issues Red Flag Warning

wildfire danger
Image courtesy of Texas A&M Forest Service.

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for all of South Central Texas from noon to 9 p.m. Friday due to gusty winds, low humidity and dry to critically dry fuels/vegetation.

A Fire Weather Watch also has been issued from Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening.

Any wildfires that develop will rapidly increase in size and intensity, move quickly, and be very difficult to control, the U.S. National Weather Service Austin-San Antonio said in a statement.

Friday, northwest winds of between 15-25 mph gusting to 35 mph are expected. On Saturday, northwest winds between 20-30 mph are possible with wind gusts of up to 45 mph.

Relative humidity could be as low as 5-15%.

The public is asked to avoid outdoor burning, keep vehicles off dry grass and properly discard cigarettes.

Wildfire prevention measures also include making an emergency plan, following instructions from local officials, and keeping emergency supplies readily available.

Gov. Greg Abbott today directed the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate additional state emergency-response resources in anticipation of ongoing, elevated-to-critical fire-weather conditions across most of the state into the weekend.

According to Texas A&M Forest Service, dry surface fuels, very strong wind gusts and low humidity continue to support increased wildfire danger across nearly all of the state, including the Hill Country.

High winds could promote large, wind-driven fires with high resistance to control.

The Wildland Fire Preparedness Level remains at level 3, indicating wildfire activity is impacting several regions of the state.

At Abbott’s direction, more than 750 state emergency responders and over 300 pieces of equipment have mobilized from more than 16 state agencies to support the state’s wildfire response across Texas.

 

 

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