Blowing Dust & Wildfire Warnings on Ash Wednesday

SAN ANGELO – Light drizzle and light rain showers early Ash Wednesday morning will give way to high winds and very dry air so strong that blowing dust and wildfire danger warnings have been issued for West Texas. 

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service office in San Angelo have issued both a Wind Advisory and a Red Flag Warning for Wednesday.  

Sustained west to southwest winds of 25 to 35 mph will gust to 50 mph Wednesday afternoon across most of West Texas.  A Wind Advisory is in effect from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday for all of West Texas.  

Blowing dust is expected to blanket the Concho Valley and Big Country and make driving difficult for high profile vehicles on north and south oriented roadways.

High, gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects.  Tree limbs could be blown down and cause isolated power outages as well.  

The drier air will also produce another threat; out of control wildfires.  Relative humidity levels will drop throughout the day to the teens and single digits and combine with the high winds and tinder dry fuel to create extreme wildfire conditions.  

The NWS has issued a Red Flag Warning for extreme wildfire conditions from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday.  

A Red Flag Warning means that critical wildfire conditions will occur.  That combination of strong winds, low humidity and dry fuels will contribute greatly to extreme wildfire behavior.  

All outdoor burning, including welding, is discouraged.  

This is a dynamic and serious weather situation and residents are urged to stay tuned for further weather updates and instructions.