Texas Faces Historic Wildfire Risk Due to Extreme Weather Conditions

Strong winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation create critical fire danger across South and Central Texas, prompting red flag warnings.

The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for large parts of Texas, including Austin, San Antonio, and Houston, due to critical fire weather conditions.
Sustained winds of 25-35 mph, gusts up to 55 mph, and relative humidity dropping as low as 5-15% are contributing to the elevated wildfire risk.
Dry vegetation, exacerbated by ongoing drought conditions across much of Texas, is fueling concerns over rapid fire spread and difficult suppression efforts.
A wildfire has already been detected in southern Val Verde County, with smoke visible near Del Rio and spreading southward into Kinney County.
Conditions are expected to improve after 9 p.m. local time, with decreasing wind speeds and rising humidity levels reducing the fire danger overnight.