logo
BLOG: Wildfires spark in Central Texas amid extreme fire danger

BLOG: Wildfires spark in Central Texas amid extreme fire danger

Yahoo05-03-2025
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Crews are battling wildfires in Central Texas Tuesday as the region is experiencing a day of 'potentially historic' fire conditions, according to the National Weather Service.
Although rain swept through parts of Central Texas in the morning, high winds, dry air and dry brush and trees on the ground are contributing to the risk of fire in the area.
On Tuesday morning, the Texas A&M Forest Service put most of our area in an extreme (5 out of 5) wildfire risk, with red flag warnings in effect through the night.
Latest forecast
Wildfire tracker
Look up power outages
Evacuation checklist
5:30 p.m.
The Austin Community College Elgin campus said it is closing early due to a power outage.
'Only agriculture classes on the campus will continue on their regular schedules. All other classes, work, and activities at Elgin are canceled for the remainder of the day. No other campuses are affected,' a spokesperson for ACC said in a statement.
ACC said updates will be posted to the ACC website and the district's social media pages.
5:20 p.m.
As high winds soar in Central Texas, KXAN continues tracking multiple wildfires across Central Texas. Our Sarah Al-Shaikh, who was reporting from Manor, said firefighters are continuing to monitor a brush fire on Blue Goose Road.
4:40 p.m.
KXAN keeps track of wildfires in Texas. More than 300 acres have burned in wildfires across Central Texas so far in 2025, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
MAP: More than 300 acres have burned in Central Texas wildfires in 2025
We'll keep them updated as new information becomes available. Fires that are still uncontained are red on the map in the article.
4:35 p.m.
The Texas A&M Forest Service is responding to a fire in Blanco County, the agency said on social media around 4:20 p.m.
The fire, now being called the Klett Fire, is estimated at 100 acres and is 0% contained.
3:44 p.m.
The Williamson County Office of Emergency Management said on social media there were at least eight fires reported in the county Tuesday.
'Fortunately, most have been contained thanks to the diligent work of our first responders,' the office said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tropical tracker: Hurricane Erin weakens to Cat. 3, forecast to restrengthen into Cat 4
Tropical tracker: Hurricane Erin weakens to Cat. 3, forecast to restrengthen into Cat 4

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Tropical tracker: Hurricane Erin weakens to Cat. 3, forecast to restrengthen into Cat 4

This story is part of the KXAN Data Hub, where numbers help tell the whole created several data-driven stories and databases on topics including weather and climate, politics, education, sports and growth in Texas. Each story in the KXAN Data Hub is updated as new data becomes available. Editor's Note: The video above shows the latest from the team. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Each year, the Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. This year is expected to be active, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting a 60% chance of an above-average season. Hurricane history: How many storms have made landfall in Texas? Follow along as we track each storm throughout hurricane season. Looking for the 2024 season? Click here. Hurricane history: Which Atlantic hurricane names have been retired? Active storms Hurricane Erin Aug. 11, 10 a.m.: Tropical Storm Erin formed in the Atlantic Ocean, about 280 miles west-northwest of Cabo Verde. Erin had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was moving west at 20 mph. Aug. 15, 10 a.m.: Tropical Storm Erin strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane about 460 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. Erin had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and was moving west-northwest at 18 mph. Aug. 15, 10 p.m.: Hurricane Erin strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane about 250 miles east-northeast of Anguilla. Erin had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph and was moving west-northwest at 17 mph. Aug. 16, 4 a.m.: Hurricane Erin strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane about 170 miles northeast of Anguilla. Erin had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and was moving west-northwest at 20 mph. Aug. 16, 4:50 a.m.: Hurricane Erin strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane about 150 miles northeast of Anguilla. Erin had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph and was moving west-northwest at 20 mph. Aug. 16, 10:20 a.m.: Hurricane Erin strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane about 105 miles north of Anguilla. Erin had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph and was moving west at 17 mph. Aug. 16, 7 p.m.: Hurricane Erin was downgraded to a Category 4 hurricane about 160 miles northwest of Anguilla. Erin had maximum sustained winds of 150 mph and was moving west at 15 mph. Aug. 17, 1 a.m.: Hurricane Erin was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane about 140 miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Erin had maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and was moving west-northwest at 14 mph. Aug. 17, 1 p.m.: Erin remained a Category 3 hurricane about 235 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Erin had maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and was moving west-northwest at 13 mph. Previous storms Tropical Storm Andrea June 24, 10 a.m.: Tropical Storm Andrea formed in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,205 miles west of the Azores. Andrea had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving east-northeast at 17 mph. June 24, 10 p.m.: Tropical Storm Andrea dissipated about 985 miles west of the Azores. Tropical Storm Barry June 28, 4 p.m.: Tropical Depression Two formed in the Bay of Campeche, about 240 miles east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico. TD Two had maximum sustained winds of 30 mph and was moving west-northwest at 7 mph. June 29, 10 a.m.: Tropical Depression Two strengthened into Tropical Storm Barry about 90 miles east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico. Barry had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving northwest at 6 mph. June 29, 1 p.m.: Tropical Storm Barry reached its maximum intensity, with 45 mph winds. June 29, 10 p.m.: Tropical Storm Barry was downgraded to a tropical depression about 15 miles south-southeast of Tampico, Mexico, after making landfall on the east coast of Mexico. Barry had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and was moving northwest at 9 mph. June 30, 4 a.m.: Tropical Depression Barry dissipated about 100 miles northeast of Tampico, Mexico. Tropical Storm Chantal July 4, 4 p.m.: Tropical Depression Three formed off the southeast U.S. coast, about 150 miles south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. TD Three had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and was moving north at 2 mph. July 5, 7 a.m.: Tropical Depression Three strengthened into Tropical Storm Chantal about 150 miles south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. Chantal had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving north at 2 mph. July 6, 1 a.m.: Tropical Storm Chantal reached its maximum intensity, with 60 mph winds. July 6, 4 a.m.: Tropical Storm Chantal made landfall near Litchfield Beach, South Carolina. Chantal had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving north-northwest at 8 mph. July 6, 10 a.m.: Tropical Storm Chantal was downgraded to a tropical depression about 20 miles southwest of Lumberton, North Carolina. Chantal had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and was moving north at 9 mph. July 7, 10 a.m.: Tropical Depression Chantal became a post-tropical cyclone about 30 miles north-northeast of Newport News, Virginia. Chantal had maximum sustained winds of 30 mph and was moving northeast at 17 mph. Tropical Storm Dexter Aug. 3, 10 p.m.: Tropical Storm Dexter formed in the Atlantic Ocean, about 300 miles west-northwest of Bermuda. Dexter had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was moving east-northeast at 12 mph. Aug. 7, 10 a.m.: Tropical Storm Dexter became an extratropical low about 390 miles south-southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland. Dexter had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and was moving east-northeast at 17 mph. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Tommy's Travel Forecast: Erin update, pattern change
Tommy's Travel Forecast: Erin update, pattern change

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Tommy's Travel Forecast: Erin update, pattern change

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hurricane Erin continues to move WNW as a Major Hurricane. Traveling along the U.S. East Coast? Erin will create a high rip current risk and large waves with some gusty winds. TROPICAL TRACKER In the Eastern Atlantic Basin, a new tropical wave could develop into our next named storm. The tropics are waking up! As of now, the National Hurricane Center forecasts a low area of potential development (yellow polygon). However, the wave is entering a favorable environment for intensification. Closer to home, a pattern change will bring several days of rain chances, which could temporarily cool us down from time to time. Locally, high temperatures will still be near triple-digits for most of the workweek. There is a low-end flood risk for most of Texas and the Deep South on both Wednesday and Thursday. We are now at the point in the summer where the severe weather risk across CONUS is generally low, with a few daily thunderstorms possible. Beyond the next week, the Climate Prediction Center forecasts warmer-than-normal temperatures in the south and cooler-than-normal temperatures in the north. Above-normal precipitation is in the forecast for most of the West Coast, with a below-normal forecast in the Midwest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword

Map Shows Where Power Outages Are Most Common in the US
Map Shows Where Power Outages Are Most Common in the US

Newsweek

time4 days ago

  • Newsweek

Map Shows Where Power Outages Are Most Common in the US

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. From Winter Storm Blair to Hurricane Beryl in Texas and the more recent Connecticut thunderstorms, power outages from severe weather events have become an increasingly common reality across the United States in recent years. A nationwide study from the Urban Resilience AI Lab at Texas A&M University has produced the first-ever Power System Vulnerability Index (PSVI)—a classification of each county identifying those most at risk of frequent and prolonged blackouts. "Using data from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, we studied the effect of weather events on the frequency and duration of nationwide power outages over the past 10 years," explained paper author and civil engineer Junwei Ma in a statement. "The dataset included over 179 million data points sorted by time and location, allowing us to create the PSVI." Where US Power Outages Hit Hardest The researchers' analysis examined outages between 2014 and 2023 across 3,022 U.S. counties, covering 96 percent of the contiguous United States. Results showed a steady nationwide rise in power system vulnerability, with 318 counties across 45 states now considered "hotspots" for high risk. Regions Most Vulnerable to Blackouts According to the PSVI data, the most vulnerable U.S. regions include: The West Coast, particularly California and Washington The East Coast, including Florida and the Northeast megalopolis The Great Lakes corridor (Chicago–Detroit) Gulf Coast areas of Texas The average county experienced outages lasting 7.3 days per year—roughly 2 percent of the year without power—with an outage occurring about once a week. Since 2019, outage duration, frequency, and scale have increased by around 20 percent annually. Why Vulnerability Is Rising Researchers linked many spikes in vulnerability to extreme weather disasters such as wildfires in California, hurricanes in Florida, and the 2021 Texas winter storm. However, non-weather factors, including aging electrical grids, rising energy demand, and urban development density, also play a major role. Urban counties, with dense populations and infrastructure, showed significantly higher vulnerability than rural areas. "Dense street trees, heavy electricity demand, and concentrated infrastructure mean cities are hit harder and recover more slowly from outages," Ma explained. How the Power System Vulnerability Index Works The PSVI was built using explainable A.I., a machine learning method that weighs outage frequency, intensity, and duration to produce a county-by-county score. This publicly available tool allows users to explore vulnerability trends over the past decade and compare risks nationwide. "We're turning 179 million messy outage logs into a roadmap for prevention—showing each county whether its biggest pain point is too many outages, too long, or too large," paper author and civil engineer professor Ali Mostafavi told Newsweek. Why It Matters The team also warned that many A.I. data centers and critical facilities are located in high-risk zones, underscoring the need for targeted investment in resilient infrastructure as severe weather events are expected to become more frequent. "The data show a clear pattern: U.S. power outages are becoming more frequent, longer, and clustered in hotspot counties," Mostafavi said. "By turning high-frequency outage logs into a county-level Power-System Vulnerability Index, we see not only where the grid struggles, but why—whether the main issue is too many events, too many customers affected, or restorations that take too long. "Without targeted upgrades, today's chronic pockets will intensify during climate extremes." The index represents the first transparent, nationwide, county-level view of grid vulnerability built from high-frequency, utility-reported outages, Mostafavi continued. "It moves the conversation from anecdotes to comparable metrics every policymaker can understand." He concluded: "With climate extremes intensifying and electrification accelerating, leaders need clear, data-driven targets for hardening the grid and protecting residents." Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about power outages? Let us know via science@ Reference Ma, J., Li, B., Omitaomu, O. A., & Mostafavi, A. (2025). Establishing nationwide power system vulnerability index across US counties using interpretable machine learning. Applied Energy, 397.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store