National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Record Temperatures Expected Across the Southern US; Fire Weather Concerns in the Central US

Unseasonably warm temperatures continue today across the southern U.S., with more than 100 record or near record maximum temperatures forecast through the rest of the week and over the weekend. Dry and gusty winds will produce elevated to critical fire weather in the central and southern Plains and elevated conditions over portions of the Desert Southwest on Friday. Read More >

 

March 2, 2008 Martin County Wildfire

 

 

Unseasonably warm temperatures and very dry and windy conditions contributed to critical fire danger across much of the area. 

Winds ahead of the front were sustained near 25 mph with gusts higher than 30 mph, sometimes gusting greater than 40 mph! 

Sustained winds of 45 to 55 mph with gusts to near 75 mph were experienced in the mountains. 

To further complicate things, snow fell across the extreme northern portions of the area and into the mountains.   

Highs on Monday were considerably colder than the recent mild temperatures that have occured across west Texas and southeast New Mexico.