Amarillo area under Red Flag Warning as wind, fire danger increases Tuesday, Wednesday

The National Weather Service Amarillo office (NWS Amarillo) has advised that strong winds are forecast Tuesday and Wednesday across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, leading to critical fire weather conditions and potential for blowing dust.

"Strong winds are forecast today and moreso on Wednesday across the Panhandles," NWS Amarillo said via Facebook on Tuesday. "Wind gusts over 55 mph are possible for some areas both today and tomorrow, with the higher gusts in the west. Blowing dust is possible with these strong winds which could lead to greatly reduced visibility and hazardous driving conditions."

The region is under a Red Flag Warning, two High Wind Warnings and Fire Weather Watch on Tuesday, with strong winds and low relative humidity as low as 12 percent for Tuesday and as low as 20 percent for Wednesday. The Fire Weather Watch remains in effect from Wednesday afternoon through the evening for the entire combined Panhandles, according to the weather alert. Affected areas also included Cimarron, Texas and Beaver counties in Oklahoma and Dallam, Sherman, Hansford, Ochiltree, Lipscomb, Hartley, Moore, Hutchinson, Roberts, Hemphill, Oldham, Potter, Carson, Gray, Wheeler, Deaf Smith, Randall, Armstrong, Donley, Collingsworth counties in Texas as well as the Palo Duro Canyon.

The watch was upgraded to a High Wind Warning after several wind gusts were reported in the area Tuesday, noting "Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. ... Patchy to areas of blowing dust may reduce visibilities at times."

According to the Red Flag Warning, a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures "will create favorable weather for rapid fire growth and spread. Avoid activities that promote open flames and sparks."

Gusty winds out of the west to southwest are forecast, and the winds could gust as high as 55 to 65 mph, the NWS Amarillo office said. Tuesday's high temperatures could potentially near 80 degrees in the southeastern Texas Panhandle. Strong winds could also lead to downed power lines and outages.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Randall County and Potter County are both currently under Severe Drought conditions, with some portions of the Texas Panhandle and South Plains under Extreme Drought and the northernmost part including some counties under Exceptional Drought conditions.

Aaron Ward, science and operations officer with the NWS, stated that although we received precipitation last week, it simply was not enough to combat the drying winds in the Panhandle leading to the Severe Drought conditions. Ward also stated that for the Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watch to cease, the area would need several inches of precipitation, which the area will be unlikely to see until April.

"This last bit of snow that we had, which covered mostly the upper part of the Panhandle leading into the Oklahoma Panhandle, has melted. Although we did see about six inches of snow with it, with the grasses that we have in the area, the precipitation we did receive didn't do much, and with the high winds that we have, it has led to our grasses drying out, leading to these warnings," Ward said.

"We don't typically see a lot of precipitation in our winter months. We would have to wait for our warm weather months, and our severe weather season in April and May, especially in the summer as we see our monsoon season affect the area, but we would need several inches of liquid precipitation to see any real improvements," Ward added.

Combine the current strong winds with the ongoing drought conditions, and you also get a blowing dust problem, NWS Amarillo warned: "Expect some potential impacts to travel with reduced visibilities. Be careful if traveling. Also, if you suffer from allergies, you might want to remember a box of tissues, and maybe even some eye drops."

The Dalhart Volunteer Fire Department said it and Hartley Fire were responding to the scene of a multi-vehicle crash on 281 near 2577 on Tuesday: "Avoid travel on 281 as crews work to clear the highway. There is near zero driving visibility on this road." Hartley Fire EMS posted an update on Facebook early Tuesday evening that said: "At 1:14 p.m., Hartley Fire was called to assist Dalhart Fire with extrication and traffic control. Three patients were transported to the hospital by Dalhart EMS. Four semis, a cement truck and two passenger vehicles were involved. The roadway was blocked for a little over two hours. Thanks to all who helped out including Hartley County Sheriff's Office, Texas DPS, and several tow services and cleanup crews."

And the Canyon Police Department posted on Facebook on Tuesday afternoon warning motorists of very low visibility, while the Canyon Fire Department reported several traffic accidents in Randall County due to brown out conditions. Canyon fire officials noted the wind advisory was upgraded to a high wind warning, and the high winds could cause downed trees and power lines. The NWS Amarillo office reported wind gusts so far on Tuesday reaching 59 mph in Amarillo and Dalhart; 58 mph in Fritch; 56 mph in Canyon, Vega and Hereford, and one as high as 62 mph reported in Texline. "We are seeing some areas of blowing dust with visibility restrictions below 1 mile at times, especially across the western half of the combined Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles," NWS noted.

Due to expected weather conditions and dangerously high wind, the City of Amarillo Landfill will be closing to the public at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, the city announced Tuesday.

Over the weekend, a wildfire near northwest 15th and Smelter Road in Amarillo burned 18 acres of ranch land, according to the Potter County Fire-Rescue. Agencies including the Amarillo Fire Department, Texas A&M Forest Service, and Potter County Fire-Rescue responded to a report of the wildfire, and no structures were immediately threatened. The Amarillo Police Department, Potter County Sheriff's Office and Amarillo Emergency Service helped control traffic in the area at the time of the fire, which was 100% contained by Sunday evening.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area under Red Flag Warning for fire danger, wind gusts