Texas wildfire update - Nov. 30, 2011 

• Today's forecast fire danger map shows elevated conditions in parts of far West Texas and the Panhandle.
  
• Significant amounts of rain are forecast for a large part of the state this weekend.
• Yesterday Texas Forest Service responded to five fires for 19 acres in East Texas.
• 152 of the 254 Texas counties are reporting burn bans.
• Daily detailed fire information can be found at inciweb.org. 

Weather summary: 

• Return of southerly winds. Slightly elevated fire weather risk in the Panhandle.
• Precipitation forecast Thursday afternoon through the weekend:
  • Wintry mix across the Panhandle
  • Western third: 0.25" to 0.75"
  • Middle third: 1" to 2.5"
  • Eastern third: 2.5" to 4"  

Fuels summary: 

• Cold progressive pattern continues. 
• Cured conditions across the state. 
• Wednesday-Thursday: Critical fuel dryness in deep south Texas but no critical fire weather; slight chance for rain this weekend.  
• Friday-Monday: Moisture returns with rain and snow chances.  
• No significant fire potential through Tuesday.   

Prevention message:  

If you live in a wildfire-prone area, there are programs -- Ready, Set, Go! and Firewise Communities -- that can help you and your family stay safe should a fire rage through your community. 

Texas wildfire update - Nov. 14, 2011 

Current situation: 

• Up to 3 inches of rain is forecast for Northeast Texas over the next 48 hours, with nearly an inch predicted for parts of Central and Southeast Texas.
• Today's forecast fire danger map shows moderate fire danger for much of the state today. 
• Yesterday Texas Forest Service responded to one new fire for 14 acres.
• In the past seven days Texas Forest Service has responded to 16 fires for 161 acres.
• 206 of the 254 Texas counties are reporting burn bans.
• Daily detailed fire information can be found at inciweb.org.

Fire numbers:  

Since wildfire season began on Nov. 15, 2010, Texas Forest Service and local fire departments have responded to 28,740 fires that have burned 3,975,657 acres.  

New large fires from yesterday (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels; or where homes were lost): 

None. 

Uncontained fires from previous days (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels): 

None. 

Weather Outlook:  

A low pressure trough will extend from the Red River valley to the Winter Garden in the morning, while a cold front will extend from Oklahoma City and bisect the Panhandle around Lubbock. By the late afternoon, two lows will have formed on the front. One low will be over the Caprock and another near the Red River Valley. In the meantime another upper low pressure system will be working its way across old Mexico and pushing some moisture up ahead of it. The net effect will be that some isolated to scattered thunderstorms will be possible across much of Texas, with the South Branch and the East Branch being the most like to see some storms. A slight chance of severe thunderstorms are possible across the South Branch, mainly from near Del Rio to Laredo and northeast to San Antonio. 

Texas wildfire update - Nov. 11, 2011 

 Current situation: 

• Today's forecast fire danger map shows very high fire danger for much of the state today. 
• Several red flag warnings and watches have been issued from the Panhandle to South Texas for gusty winds and low relative humidity.
• Yesterday Texas Forest Service responded to three new fires for 47 acres.
• In the past seven days Texas Forest Service has responded to 11 fires for 96 acres.
• 206 of the 254 Texas counties are reporting burn bans.
• Daily detailed fire information can be found at inciweb.org.

Fire numbers:  

Since wildfire season began on Nov. 15, 2010, Texas Forest Service and local fire departments have responded to 28,740 fires that have burned 3,975,657 acres.  

New large fires from yesterday (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels; or where homes were lost): 

None. 

Uncontained fires from previous days (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels): 

None. 

Weather Outlook:  

High pressure continues to move to the east as a trough approaches from the northwest. As a result, the winds across the West and Northwest branches will increase and the dry southwesterly flow will bring the relative humidity to near critical levels. Also some partly cloudy skies will develop out ahead of the trough. The rest of the area will also switch over to southwesterly flow, but much lighter. Morning temperatures will also moderate with morning lows ranging from near 40 in the Panhandle to near 60 along the Gulf Coast. 

 Wildfire update - Nov. 7, 2011  

Current situation:  

• Yesterday Texas Forest Service responded to two new fires for 5 acres.
• In the past seven days Texas Forest Service has responded to 13 fires for 248 acres.
• Since fire season began on Nov. 15, 2010, Texas Forest Service and local fire departments have responded to 28,385 fires that have burned 3,972,190 acres.
• As fire risk and occurrence has diminished over the past few weeks, numerous aviation and ground resources have been released across the state.  However, the Texas Forest Service Lone Star State incident management team remains in place in Merkel and continues to oversee TFS and interagency resources staged in the areas with the highest potential.
• 212 of the 254 Texas counties are reporting burn bans.
• Daily detailed fire information can be found at inciweb.org.
• Today's forecast fire danger.

New large fires from yesterday (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels; or where homes were lost):  

None.  

Uncontained fires from previous days (more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels):  

None. 

Weather Outlook:   

Another strong trough of low pressure over Arizona will move toward Texas today. This will continue the moist southeast flow over the eastern two-thirds of Texas today. There will be a chance of showers and thunderstorms for most of the state east of the Pecos River by tonight. There is a slight risk for severe thunderstorms late today into Tuesday morning inside a line from about Del Rio to Amarillo to Dallas and back. Strong northwesterly winds will develop over the western half of the state by Tuesday evening with drier air and cooler temperatures. Cool and dry air will remain over Texas on Wednesday with a warming trend starting on Thursday.