February 27 Wildfire Outbreak

On Sunday, February 27, a powerful upper-level disturbance ejected from the Desert Southwest into the southern High Plains. In response to this, a deepening area of low pressure developed in Southeast Colorado and an associated dryline rapidly moved eastward across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. Behind the dryline, unseasonably warm temperatures combined with extremely dry air to result in very low relative humidity values. The combination of a tightening pressure gradient, a deep boundary layer with steep lapse rates, and a core of 80 mph winds at 12,000 feet (AGL) being transported toward the surface resulted in strong southwesterly winds behind the dryline, especially across the southwestern Texas Panhandle. In fact, a peak wind gust of 69 mph was measured at 1:38 p.m. at Rick Husband International Airport in Amarillo. These strong winds were also responsible for widespread blowing dust across much of western Texas, including the southern Texas Panhandle. At times, the blowing dust resulted in visibilities being reduced to 1 mile.

In addition to the strong winds and low relative humidities, 1-hour fuel moisture levels were around 2% and 10-hour fuel moisture levels were around 3%. Needless to say, this resulted in an extreme fire danger rating. During the afternoon and evening hours, several fires broke out across the Texas Panhandle. Some of the more significant fires occurred in Potter County, Randall County, Lipscomb County, Wheeler County, Hutchinson County, and Carson County.