Weather Alert in Texas

Recent Locations: Spring, TX Greenwood Lake, NY

Red Flag Warning issued February 16 at 8:57PM CST until February 17 at 8:00PM CST by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

AREAS AFFECTED: Loving; Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor; Eastern Culberson County; Reeves County Plains; Chinati Mountains; Marfa Plateau; Davis Mountains; Davis Mountains Foothills

DESCRIPTION: ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM CST /10 AM MST/ TO 8 PM CST /7 PM MST/ TUESDAY FOR 20 FOOT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR GREATER, RELATIVE HUMIDITY AS LOW AS 15 PERCENT, AND HIGH FIRE DANGER ACROSS GAINES COUNTY, THE SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO PLAINS, UPPER TRANS PECOS, VAN HORN CORRIDOR, DAVIS MOUNTAINS, AND MARFA PLATEAU... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR 20 FOOT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR GREATER, RELATIVE HUMIDITY BELOW 15 PERCENT, AND HIGH FIRE DANGER ACROSS GAINES COUNTY, THE SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO PLAINS, UPPER TRANS PECOS, VAN HORN CORRIDOR, DAVIS MOUNTAINS, AND MARFA PLATEAU... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR, EASTERN CULBERSON AND LOVING COUNTIES, THE REEVES COUNTY PLAINS, DAVIS MOUNTAINS, MARFA PLATEAU, AND CHINATI MOUNTAINS... The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 11 AM to 8 PM CST Tuesday. A Fire Weather Watch has also been issued for wind and low relative humidity and is in effect from Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening. * WINDS...West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 12 percent. * RFTI...4 to 5 or near critical. * IMPACTS... * SEVERITY... FUELS (ERC)...50th-69th percentile...3 (out of 5). WEATHER...Near Critical...2 (out of 5). FIRE ENVIRONMENT...5 (out of 10).

INSTRUCTION: A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will increase potential for fire growth. A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.

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Weather Topic: What are Fractus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Fractus Clouds

Fractus Clouds Next Topic: Freezing Rain

A fractus cloud (scud) is a fragmented, tattered cloud which has likely been sheared off of another cloud. They are accessory clouds, meaning they develop from parent clouds, and are named in a way which describes the original cloud which contained them.

Fractus clouds which have originated from cumulus clouds are referred to as cumulus fractus, while fractus clouds which have originated from stratus clouds are referred to as stratus fractus. Under certain conditions a fractus cloud might merge with another cloud, or develop into a cumulus cloud, but usually a fractus cloud seen by itself will dissipate rapidly.

They are often observed on the leading and trailing edges of storm clouds, and are a display of wind activity.

Next Topic: Freezing Rain

Weather Topic: What is Graupel?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Graupel

Graupel Next Topic: Hail

Graupel is a form of precipitation that is created by atmospheric conditions which cause supercooled water droplets to contact snow crystals and freeze to their surface.

Sometimes known as soft hail or snow pellets, graupel is delicate and easily destroyed by touch. Whereas hail usually falls during severe weather, graupel doesn't require such conditions to form, and can form in mild precipitation similar to situations which produce snowfall.

Next Topic: Hail