Fire Weather Watch Issued Amid Midwinter Heat Wave

SAN ANGELO – A midwinter heat wave will combine with a strong cold front this week to create dangerous wildfire conditions across West Central Texas prompting the National Weather Service office in San Angelo to issue a Fire Weather Watch that could be upgraded to a Red Flag Warning if conditions deteriorate.  

According to the NWS, a strong system in the mid layers of the atmosphere will move across West Texas Wednesday afternoon producing winds of 15 to 25 mph and gusty.  There is already a midwinter head wave occurring, so humidities will fall below 15 percent combining with strong, gusty winds to create Critical to near Critical Fire Weather Conditions.  Temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will reach the mid 80s before the passage of the frontal system. 

A cold front will blow through the region Wednesday night shifting the winds to the northwest increasing the potential for wildfires to spread. 

The Fire Weather Watch is in effect from noon until midnight Wednesday.

A Fire Weather Watch means there is the potential for Critical Fire Weather Conditions.  The Watch could be upgraded to a Red Flag Warning if conditions deteriorate. 

This is a developing weather situation.