Alert archive / Texas / Red Flag Warnings in 2026
Red Flag Warning 13, NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
NWS Midland/Odessa, TX issued this red flag warning at Apr 22, 2026, 1:21 PM CDT for 7 counties in Texas; 5 counties in New Mexico. It took effect at Apr 23, 2026, 10:00 AM CDT. It was in force for 12 hr. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 22, 2026, 1:21 PM CDT (18:21 UTC)
- In effect from
- Apr 23, 2026, 10:00 AM CDT
- Expired
- Apr 23, 2026, 10:14 PM CDT
- In force
- 12 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
Counties Chaves County, NM, Eddy County, NM, Lea County, NM, Lincoln County, NM, Otero County, NM, Brewster County, TX, Culberson County, TX, Gaines County, TX, Jeff Davis County, TX, Loving County, TX, Presidio County, TX, Reeves County, TX
The radar
The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 182 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:23 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 12:36 PM CDT | NON-TSTM WND GST 61 | Pine Springs, TX | Mesonet station at Pine Springs GMNP recorded a non-thunderstorm wind gust of 61 mph. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
The nearest sounding before it
Santa Teresa, NM (KEPZ), launched 12:00Z, 6.4 hours before the alert went out and 244 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 3419 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 30 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 3 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 26 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
533 WWUS84 KMAF 221821 RFWMAF URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 121 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND PORTIONS OF WEST TEXAS... TXZ275-276-281-221930- /O.CAN.KMAF.FW.A.0012.260423T1400Z-260424T0600Z/ Chinati Mountains-Marfa Plateau-Presidio Valley- 121 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026 ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE PRESIDIO VALLEY, THE MARFA PLATEAU, AND THE CHINATI MOUNTAINS... The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has cancelled the Fire Weather Watch. Elevated fire weather conditions may still be expected for these locations. $$ NMZ116>119-TXZ045-059-271>274-277-278-231100- /O.UPG.KMAF.FW.A.0012.260423T1400Z-260424T0600Z/ /O.NEW.KMAF.FW.W.0013.260423T1600Z-260424T0200Z/ Sacramento Foothills and Guadalupe Mountains-Chaves Plains- Eddy Plains-Lea-Gaines-Loving-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains- Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor-Eastern Culberson- Reeves County Plains-Davis Mountains-Davis Mountains Foothills- 121 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026 /1221 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026/ ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ TO 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ THURSDAY FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO, GAINES COUNTY, PORTIONS OF THE UPPER TRANS PECOS, THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS, AND THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS... The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ to 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ Thursday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Higher sustained winds and gusts in the mountains. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 7 percent. * RFTI...7 or extreme. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. * SEVERITY... FUELS (ERC)...50th-69th percentile...3 (out of 5). WEATHER...Critical...3 (out of 5). FIRE ENVIRONMENT...6 (out of 10). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will increase potential for fire growth. && $$ TXZ270-231100- /O.NEW.KMAF.FW.W.0013.260423T1600Z-260424T0200Z/ Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet- 1221 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM MDT THURSDAY FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR THE GUADALUPE 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 10 AM to 8 PM MDT Thursday. * WINDS...West 40 to 50 mph with gusts up to 70 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 11 percent. * RFTI...6 or critical. * IMPACTS... * SEVERITY... FUELS (ERC)...50th-69th percentile...3 (out of 5). WEATHER...Critical...3 (out of 5). FIRE ENVIRONMENT...6 (out of 10). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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. && $$
3 follow-up statements
971 WWUS84 KMAF 230845 RFWMAF URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 345 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM CDT /9 AM MDT/ THIS MORNING TO MIDNIGHT CDT /11 PM MDT/ TONIGHT FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO, MOST OF WEST TEXAS SOUTH TO THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS, AND GAINES COUNTY... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER FROM THE SACRAMENTO FOOTHILLS TO THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS, AS WELL AS THE ADJACENT PLAINS... NMZ116>118-TXZ270>273-277-278-250300- /O.NEW.KMAF.FW.A.0013.260424T1700Z-260425T0300Z/ /O.EXT.KMAF.FW.W.0013.260423T1500Z-260424T0500Z/ Sacramento Foothills and Guadalupe Mountains-Chaves Plains- Eddy Plains-Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet- Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains-Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor- Eastern Culberson-Davis Mountains-Davis Mountains Foothills- 345 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 /245 AM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026/ ...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM CDT /9 AM MDT/ THIS MORNING TO MIDNIGHT CDT /11 PM MDT/ TONIGHT FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER... * WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 5 percent. * RFTI...7-8 or extreme. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. * SEVERITY... FUELS (ERC)...50th-69th percentile...3 (out of 5). WEATHER...Elevated...1 (out of 5). FIRE ENVIRONMENT...4 (out of 10). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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. && $$ NMZ119-TXZ045-059-274-240500- /O.EXT.KMAF.FW.W.0013.260423T1500Z-260424T0500Z/ Lea-Gaines-Loving-Reeves County Plains- 345 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 /245 AM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026/ ...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM CDT /9 AM MDT/ THIS MORNING TO MIDNIGHT CDT /11 PM MDT/ TONIGHT FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER... * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 5 percent. * RFTI...5-7 or critical to extreme. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. * SEVERITY... FUELS (ERC)...50th-69th percentile...3 (out of 5). WEATHER...Near Critical...2 (out of 5). FIRE ENVIRONMENT...5 (out of 10). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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. && $$ TXZ276-250300- /O.NEW.KMAF.FW.A.0013.260424T1700Z-260425T0300Z/ Marfa Plateau- 345 AM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER... * WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 8 percent. * RFTI...4-7 or near critical to extreme. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. * SEVERITY... FUELS (ERC)...50th-69th percentile...3 (out of 5). WEATHER...Near Critical...2 (out of 5). FIRE ENVIRONMENT...5 (out of 10). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings. && $$ 44
417 WWUS84 KMAF 231857 RFWMAF URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 157 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM CDT /9 AM MDT/ THIS MORNING TO MIDNIGHT CDT /11 PM MDT/ TONIGHT FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO, MOST OF WEST TEXAS SOUTH TO THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS, AND GAINES COUNTY... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH FIRE DANGER FROM THE SACRAMENTO FOOTHILLS TO THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS, AS WELL AS THE ADJACENT PLAINS... NMZ116>118-TXZ270>273-277-278-240500- /O.CON.KMAF.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260424T0500Z/ /O.CON.KMAF.FW.A.0013.260424T1700Z-260425T0300Z/ Sacramento Foothills and Guadalupe Mountains-Chaves Plains- Eddy Plains-Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet- Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains-Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor- Eastern Culberson-Davis Mountains-Davis Mountains Foothills- 157 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 /1257 PM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026/ ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT /11 PM MDT/ TONIGHT FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO, MOST OF WEST TEXAS SOUTH TO THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS, AND GAINES COUNTY... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH FIRE DANGER FROM THE SACRAMENTO FOOTHILLS TO THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS, AS WELL AS THE ADJACENT PLAINS... * WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 6 percent. * RFTI...6 or critical. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. * SEVERITY... FUELS (ERC)...50th-69th percentile...3 (out of 5). WEATHER...Critical...3 (out of 5). FIRE ENVIRONMENT...6 (out of 10). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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. && $$ NMZ119-TXZ045-059-274-240500- /O.CON.KMAF.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260424T0500Z/ Lea-Gaines-Loving-Reeves County Plains- 157 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 /1257 PM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026/ ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT /11 PM MDT/ TONIGHT FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR LEA COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND GAINES, REEVES, AND LOVING COUNTIES IN WEST TEXAS... * WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 6 percent. * RFTI...6 or critical. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. * SEVERITY... FUELS (ERC)...50th-69th percentile...3 (out of 5). WEATHER...Critical...3 (out of 5). FIRE ENVIRONMENT...6 (out of 10). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will increase potential for fire growth. && $$ TXZ276-240500- /O.CON.KMAF.FW.A.0013.260424T1700Z-260425T0300Z/ Marfa Plateau- 157 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE MARFA PLATEAU... * WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 8 percent. * RFTI...1 or elevated. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. * SEVERITY... FUELS (ERC)...50th-69th percentile...3 (out of 5). WEATHER...Elevated...1 (out of 5). FIRE ENVIRONMENT...4 (out of 10). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings. && $$
682 WWUS84 KMAF 240314 RFWMAF URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 1014 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO AND PORTIONS OF WEST TEXAS... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO AND PORTIONS OF WEST TEXAS... NMZ116>118-TXZ270>273-277-278-240415- /O.CAN.KMAF.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260424T0500Z/ /O.CAN.KMAF.FW.A.0013.260424T1700Z-260425T0300Z/ Sacramento Foothills and Guadalupe Mountains-Chaves Plains- Eddy Plains-Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet- Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains-Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor- Eastern Culberson-Davis Mountains-Davis Mountains Foothills- 1014 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 /914 PM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026/ ...RED FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO AND PORTIONS OF WEST TEXAS... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO AND PORTIONS OF WEST TEXAS... The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has cancelled the Red Flag Warning. The Fire Weather Watch has been cancelled. Red Flag conditions are no longer expected. Therefore the Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watches have been cancelled. $$ NMZ119-TXZ045-059-274-240415- /O.CAN.KMAF.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260424T0500Z/ Lea-Gaines-Loving-Reeves County Plains- 1014 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 /914 PM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026/ ...RED FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS CANCELLED FOR THE NORTHWESTERN PERMIAN BASIN AND UPPER TRANS PECOS... The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has cancelled the Red Flag Warning. Red Flag conditions are no longer expected. Therefore the Red Flag Warning has been cancelled. $$ TXZ276-240415- /O.CAN.KMAF.FW.A.0013.260424T1700Z-260425T0300Z/ Marfa Plateau- 1014 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026 ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS CANCELLED FOR THE MARFA PLATEAU... The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has cancelled the Fire Weather Watch. Red Flag conditions are no longer expected. Therefore the Fire Weather Watch has been cancelled. $$
The office that day
Everything else NWS Midland/Odessa, TX issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 22, 12:44 AM CDT | High Wind Watch | MAF | Culberson | 24 hr |
| Apr 22, 3:45 AM CDT | Fire Weather Watch | MAF | Brewster, Culberson, Gaines, Jeff Davis, Loving, Presidio and 1 more | 10 hr |
| Apr 22, 4:48 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MAF | Terrell | 27 min |
| Apr 22, 4:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MAF | Brewster, Pecos, Terrell | 35 min |
Nearby
Red Flag Warnings in Texas, 2026Red Flag Warnings in New Mexico, 2026Every red flag warning in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.