Midland, Texas – Fires can spark and spread within minutes across West Texas this afternoon as humidity drops to 4 percent and winds ramp up toward 40 mph, creating a volatile environment through 10 p.m. Sunday.
According to the National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa, a Red Flag Warning remains in effect across the Permian Basin and surrounding counties, including Ector, Midland, Andrews, and Howard, where southwest winds of 10 to 20 mph will shift northeast this evening and intensify to 20 to 30 mph with gusts reaching 40 mph. The combination of extreme dryness and strong winds places fuels in the 90th percentile, meaning vegetation can ignite بسهولة and burn aggressively.
Communities from Odessa to Big Spring and down through Fort Stockton face the highest risk during the late afternoon and early evening hours, especially along open roadways like I-20 and Highway 285 where wind-driven embers can cross lanes and ignite roadside grass.
Residents are urged to avoid outdoor burning, secure trailer chains, and delay any activity that could create sparks. Fire crews remain on high alert as even small ignitions could overwhelm containment efforts.
The warning remains active until 10 p.m., and additional alerts could be issued if conditions persist into early week.
