03-03-2025
NWS issues red flag warning for Central Texas, weather expected to elevate wildfire risk
The National Weather Service has issued a 'Red Flag Warning' for Central Texas all day Tuesday as inclement weather is expected to elevate wildfire risk.
The arrival of a Pacific front early Tuesday will bring wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour and drive down humidity levels, creating ideal conditions for a blaze to spark and spread in the drought-stricken region, according to the weather service's Austin/San Antonio office.
"Vegetation fuels over the region are already very dry, and will allow for the rapid and extreme fire spread during this period of windy and dry weather," Monte Oaks said in a forecast update on Monday afternoon. "The strength of the winds and gusts when combined with the dry air, will be at levels not seen in this area in several years."
A fire danger forecast map released Monday by the Texas A&M Forest Service shows the majority of the state, including Austin, will be in "extreme" danger of wildfires on Tuesday, the most severe ranking.
Most of Central Texas was in a drought as of Feb. 25, according to the latest information from the U.S. Drought Monitor. For more than 80% of Travis County, the drought is considered extreme.
Travis County has not enacted a burn ban because that requires approval from Commissioners Court, which is not meeting this week, said county spokesman Hector Nieto. Instead, the county is asking residents to hold off on burning anything until after Tuesday. Nieto said the fire marshal will consider asking for a burn ban at the next commissioners court meeting on March 11, if it is warranted.
The fire risk will be about the same across all South and Central Texas counties, according to the NWS office.
On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott instructed the state's Division of Emergency Management to begin preparing for the extreme weather conditions, according to a news release that focused especially on the threat to the western, northern and eastern parts of the state.
"As the state faces increased wildfire risks in West Texas and potential severe storms in North and East Texas, Texas stands ready to swiftly deploy additional emergency response resources to communities that may be impacted,' Abbott said in the release.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: National Weather Service issues red flag warning for Central Texas
