The National Weather Service Fort Worth/Dallas expects an elevated fire risk to continue in the North Texas region this week.
The NWS issued the alert on Monday afternoon. According to the bulletin, an elevated fire threat is expected for areas near and west of I-35 both Tuesday and Wednesday. This is after a Monday night freeze that took temperatures as low as 27 degrees.
Wind gusts will be near 25-30 mph on Tuesday and 15-25 on Wednesday. Additionally, Wednesday should bring slightly higher humidity of 20-30% west of I-35. Vegetation dryness is currently considered dry.
That means residents should observe wildfire prevention best practices, which means avoiding outdoor burning, securing tow chains, refraining for parking on tall grass, and properly dispose of cigarettes and other smoking materials.
The NWS is also expecting unseasonably warm weather later in the week with no rain in the forecast. Temperatures could reach the 90s across the region, which is 20 degrees higher than normal.
Residents should make sure to stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade or even AC if they decide to spend time outdoors. This is especially true for people who are sensitive to heat. Never leave pets, children, or vulnerable people alone in a vehicle for any amount of time.
The hottest weather should be on Saturday, when Killeen, Stephenville, Cisco, Mineral Wells, and Bowie are expected to see temperatures of 95 degrees or higher. Mineral Wells, in particular, could clear the 95-degree hurdle from Friday all the way through Sunday.