HOUSTON – The Fire Weather Watch that was issued for most of the Houston area has now been upgraded to a Red Flag Warning.
The watch was originally issued due to critical fire weather conditions, such as strong winds and dry vegetation.
The warning was issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) and is in effect from Friday until Saturday at 9 p.m.
Red Flag Warning for Southeast Texas
Local perspective:
The following counties are under a fire weather watch:
- Montgomery
- Colorado
- Austin
- Waller
- Harris (Inland and Coastal)
- Wharton
- Fort Bend
- Jackson (Inland and Coastal)
- Matagorda (Inland and Coastal)
- Brazoria (Inland and Coastal)
- Inland Galveston
According to NWS, the Red Flag Warning means critical fire conditions are either happening now, or they will shortly. Any wildfires that start in these conditions could grow and move quickly.
Friday’s winds will travel southwest and are expected to reach 10-20 mph. Combined with humidity values between the upper 10s to middle 20s, critical fire weather conditions are expected primarily in the Brazos Valley and extending towards the Piney Woods.
For Saturday, winds will travel west between 10-20 mph with gusts of up to 30 mph. Humidity is expected to remain in the 10s and 20s, so this will create a more widespread critical fire weather threat.
Reduce the risks
What you can do:
To minimize the risks of wildfires, you can do the following:
- Avoid open flames or sparks
- Keep vehicles off dry grass
- Throw away cigarettes properly
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The Source: National Weather Service and Your Local Gulf Coast Weather Authority
