San Antonio, TX – Fire crews across south-central Texas are on high alert Monday as powerful north winds and extremely dry air create conditions where a single spark could quickly spread into a fast-moving wildfire.
According to the National Weather Service in Austin/San Antonio, a Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 8 p.m. Monday for all of south-central Texas, including Austin, San Antonio, New Braunfels, Kerrville, Del Rio, and Eagle Pass. North winds of 15 to 30 mph with gusts reaching 40 to 45 mph combined with humidity dropping as low as 10–20% are creating critical fire weather conditions.
The dry, windy pattern follows a cold front that dropped temperatures into the 50s and lower 60s Monday afternoon, well below normal for mid-March. Officials warn that the strong winds could allow fires to spread rapidly through dry grasslands, especially along open corridors near Interstate 10, Interstate 35, and rural Hill Country areas.
Residents are urged to avoid outdoor burning, keep vehicles off dry grass, and properly dispose of cigarettes to prevent accidental fires.
Cold air will remain in place through Tuesday, with some communities in the Hill Country possibly seeing near-freezing temperatures overnight. The pattern will quickly flip later this week, however, with temperatures surging back into the upper 80s and mid-90s by Friday and Saturday across parts of south-central Texas.
Officials say elevated fire danger could continue if the dry pattern persists through the week.
