Fire Weather Risk for the Southwest and Southern Plains Today and Thursday

news image
Top Stories
11 Apr 2018 3:17 AM
Weather conditions are coming together for the parts of the Southwest and the southern and central Plains for a major fire weather threat.  All the ingredients will be there today...drought conditions, gusty winds and very low humidity.

Fire Weather Alerts

Red Flag Warnings have been issued for Arizona and New Mexico...as well as parts of Colorado, Texas, Kansas and Nebraska.  A red flag warning is a forecast warning issued by the National Weather Service to inform area firefighting and land management agencies that conditions are ideal for wildland fire combustion, and rapid spread.  Here are the conditions needed to have a red flag warning. Strong winds, warm temperatures and low humidity are all needed to meet the criteria for a red flag warning.

Temperature Forecast

Take a look at all the heat that will be building over the region today and tomorrow.  Highs should be well into the 90s for parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Wind Forecast

Wind speeds will be increasing for both Wednesday and Thursday.  It looks like Thursday's winds will be even stronger with consistent wind speeds of 25 - 35 mph for the entire region.  These strong winds will help any fire that starts to spread rapidly and make containment very difficult.

Drought Monitor

We are seeing extreme and critical drought conditions over the same areas that are under a red flag warning.  Moisture is desperately needed in these areas, but it doesn't look like there are any rain chances in the short-term forecast. If you live in these areas under the warning please us caution with any outdoor flames and sparks.  Also, avoid any outdoor burning.   Meteorologist Patrick Crawford  
All Weather News
More
Isaias Makes Landfall as A Category 2, Impacts Spreading North

Isaias Makes Landfall as A Category 2, Impacts Spreading North

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, F

12 Oct 2026 1:30 AM
Rachel Spreading Moisture into the Southwest

Rachel Spreading Moisture into the Southwest

Rachel came ashore in far northwestern Mexico

12 Oct 2026 1:30 AM
Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week

More records were broken across the central p

12 Oct 2026 1:30 AM
Digging Trough Brings Wind and Snow to the Northern Rockies This Weekend

Digging Trough Brings Wind and Snow to the Northern Rockies This Weekend

A strong upper-level trough digging south fro

12 Oct 2026 1:25 AM
Tropics: Another Blob in the Atlantic, Pacific Stays Hyperactive

Tropics: Another Blob in the Atlantic, Pacific Stays Hyperactive

Isaias ended the late-season streak of no hur

12 Oct 2026 12:45 AM
Flooding, Tornadoes Target Central Florida Thursday

Flooding, Tornadoes Target Central Florida Thursday

Deep tropical moisture streaming north from t

8 Oct 2026 1:00 PM
Fall Chill Grips the East While Record Heat Bakes the West

Fall Chill Grips the East While Record Heat Bakes the West

A major temperature divide is unfolding acros

7 Oct 2026 10:00 AM