logo
Fire Weather Risk for the Southern Plains and Four Corners This Weekend
news image
Top Stories
9 Mar 2018 5:58 AM
High drought conditions and strong winds will lead to an increased fire weather risk for parts of the Southern Plains and Four Corners.  West Texas and Eastern New Mexico are under a Critical Fire Risk.  Here is what that means from the Storm Prediction Center.

 

Critical​ ​for​ ​temperature,​ ​wind,​ ​and​ ​relative​ ​humidity​:

-​ ​Sustained​ ​winds​ ​20​ ​mph​ ​or​ ​greater​ ​(15​ ​mph​ ​Florida) -​ ​Minimum​ ​relative​ ​humidity​ ​at​ ​or​ ​below​ ​regional​ ​thresholds -​ ​Temperatures​ ​above​ ​50-60°​ ​F,​ ​depending​ ​on​ ​the​ ​season -​ ​Dry​ ​fuels​ -​ ​Duration​ ​of​ ​3​ ​hours​ ​or​ ​more

Fire Weather Alerts

Fire weather watches and red flag warnings have been issued for some areas of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico and Texas.  This means that if any fire starts that it will likely spread quickly and containment could be very difficult for fire firefighters.

Fire Weather Conditions

Drought

Several areas of extreme drought conditions are in place so this means there is plenty of dry fuel for fires to develop and spread.    An example of dry fuel would be dry grass or shrubbery.

Low Humidity

Here is a look at the morning dew point temperatures across the southern region when you see numbers in the teens that means very dry air.  Albuquerque and El Paso had dew points in the low teens on Friday morning and this will help contribute to the fire weather risk.

Strong Winds

Sustained winds will likely range from 20-30 mph throughout Saturday and this will help any fires that develop to spread very quickly.   If you live in these areas, you will want to avoid any outdoor activities that require flames or sparks.   Meteorologist Patrick Crawford  
All Weather News
Severe Storms Across the Gulf Coast Monday & Tuesday
Severe Storms Across the Gulf Coast Monday & Tuesday
This weekend was extremely active in terms of
27 Mar 2023 2:20 PM
More Snow & Rain as Snowpack in California Creeps Closer to Top Spot
More Snow & Rain as Snowpack in California Creeps Closer to Top Spot
CALIFORNIA - We have had an incredible snow s
27 Mar 2023 2:15 PM
Strong Thunderstorms to Return to the Plains Thursday
Strong Thunderstorms to Return to the Plains Thursday
Confidence is increasing in the threat of wid
27 Mar 2023 2:10 PM
Snow Chances From Colorado Through the Plains
Snow Chances From Colorado Through the Plains
After a wintery weekend in Colorado, Nebraska
27 Mar 2023 2:05 PM
Parts of the Southeast Stay Sunny and Sultry
Parts of the Southeast Stay Sunny and Sultry
A ridge of high pressure in the Gulf of Mexic
27 Mar 2023 1:30 AM
Heavy Snow for the Great Lakes and Northeast Tonight
Heavy Snow for the Great Lakes and Northeast Tonight
Another low-pressure system moving through th
25 Mar 2023 9:25 PM
Flooding Turns Fatal in Missouri
Flooding Turns Fatal in Missouri
Heavy rain brought on by torrential downpours
24 Mar 2023 8:20 PM