Wildfire in Texas, February 16 to 18, 2022

Name: Wildfire in Texas, February 16 to 18, 2022
Start: 2022-02-16T14:00
End: 2022-02-18T14:00
Location: Texas

February 16 to 18, 2022 · NWS BRO · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BRO wrote it up.

Conditions were very favorable for wildfire spread ahead of a cold front during the day of February 16th. Strong, gusty southerly winds combined with cured ground fuels from several freeze events from the previous weeks allowed for rapid wildfire growth. The 755 wildfire, in the south central portion of the county, ignited on February 16th around 2:00PM CST and continued until 1:00PM CST on February 18th when it was announced it was 100 percent contained. The fire consumed a total of 2,000 acres.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Brownsville, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 16, 1:06 PM CST, 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 16, 1:06 PM CST, 54 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
106 PM CST Wed Feb 16 2022

.DISCUSSION...Updated for latest aviation discussion below.
&&

.AVIATION...Satellite images and surface observations indicate
some low to mid level clouds across the coastal sections of deep
south Texas early this afternoon. Ceilings were near 2600ft at
KBRO/KPIL to near 3300ft at KTXW. Expect VFR to MVFR conditions
to prevail across the Rio Grande Valley through the rest of the
afternoon into this evening. The strong southerly winds will
continue across most of deep south Texas through the rest of the
afternoon through this evening.
&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 538 AM CST Wed Feb 16 2022/
DISCUSSION...Updated for latest aviation discussion below.

AVIATION...VFR conditions generally prevail through this evening,
with brief MVFR ceilings near BRO and HRL over the next couple of
hours this morning. MVFR ceilings likely return tonight into
Thursday at BRO and HRL. Southerly winds increase this morning
with Wind Advisories in effect for the RGV aerodromes this morning
through this afternoon. LLWS is possible near MFE over the next
couple of hours before wind gusts mix further down to the
surface. A low level jet this evening into tonight will allow
gusty winds to persist through the remainder of the TAF period
and potentially setting up periods of LLWS from west to east
tonight into early tomorrow morning.

PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 431 AM CST Wed Feb 16 2022/

SHORT TERM (Now through Thursday): Deepening low pressure across
the Southern Plains strengthens the pressure gradient into mid
morning, increasing winds along the coastal counties of Deep South
Texas. Have extended the Wind Advisory westward into Hidalgo County,
generally through the mid RGV. The LLJ arrives this evening and
potentially maintains elevated wind speeds through the evening and
overnight hours. The pressure gradient weakens into Thursday as a
cold front arrives with little in the way of CAA through the day
Thursday. Temperatures today return to the 80s, with highs on
Thursday also expected to top 80 degrees. Lows overnight will remain
slightly above normal in the low 60s.

There is some question to sea fog this evening into Thursday as
well, with cooler water temperatures and persistent, strong
southerly winds.

Have hoisted a Fire Watch for Thursday afternoon, with RH values
tanking into the low teens and potentially single digits across
Zapata, Jim Hogg, and Starr counties, the driest counties in Deep
South Texas. Winds may not reach criteria beyond a few hours across
the west, but the dry air will ramp up fire weather concerns for the
day.

LONG TERM (Thursday Night through Tuesday): The passage of a cold
front on Thursday will set the stage for the weather in this
portion of the forecast, with dry conditions prevailing due to a
nearly zonal 500 mb flow over Deep South Texas and the Rio Grande
Valley. Initially cooler temperatures Thursday night through
Saturday night will warm to above normal levels for the remainder
of the period as an onshore flow redevelops and intensifies.

MARINE (Now through Thursday): Strong southerly winds will continue
to elevate seas this morning, with hazardous marine conditions
expected to continue through Thursday. A cold front Thursday
morning shifts winds out of the north, with a brief break in wind
speeds Thursday afternoon. Small Craft Advisories are in effect
through the short term period. Patchy to areas of sea fog are
possible tonight, mainly along the northern coastal waters.

Thursday Night through Tuesday: Adverse marine conditions will
occur Thursday night through Friday due to the passage of a cold
front. Small Craft Advisory will be needed, with the possibility
of a Gale Warning not entire ruled out. Generally moderate winds
and seas will then occur through the remainder of the period with
an enhanced pressure gradient developing and persisting over the
western Gulf of Mexico. However, winds may be strong enough and
seas high enough to warrant Small Craft Exercise Caution to
borderline Small Craft Advisory.

FIRE WEATHER: Windy conditions today will create a limited fire
weather threat and produce erratic wildfire behavior with rapid
growth and spread. A cold front on Thursday arrives with very dry
air and 20 foot wind speeds near critical fire weather criteria. A
Fire Watch is in effect for Zapata, Jim Hogg, and Starr counties mid
Thursday morning through Thursday afternoon. Burning of any kind
is discouraged.
&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
BAYVIEW/PORT ISABEL  64  79  47  59 /  10   0   0  10
BROWNSVILLE          68  84  50  61 /  10   0  10  10
HARLINGEN            65  83  46  61 /  10   0   0  10
MCALLEN              63  85  46  64 /  10   0   0   0
RIO GRANDE CITY      59  86  46  66 /  10   0   0   0
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND   66  72  51  57 /  10  10  10  10
&&

.BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...High Rip Current Risk through Thursday afternoon for TXZ256-257-
     351.

     Wind Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for TXZ250-251-253>257-
     351-353.

     Fire Weather Watch from Thursday morning through Thursday
     afternoon for TXZ248-249-252.

GM...Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM CST Thursday for GMZ130-132-135.

     Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM CST Thursday for GMZ150-155-170-
     175.
&&

This product is also available on the web at:
https://weather.gov/rgv

61-Castillo/67-Mejia/63-KC/65-Soria

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 16, 4:29 AM CST, 9 hours 31 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
429 AM CST Wed Feb 16 2022

TXZ248>257-351-353-171030-
Zapata-Jim Hogg-Brooks-Inland Kenedy-Starr-Southern Hidalgo-
Inland Willacy-Inland Cameron-Coastal Willacy-Coastal Cameron-
Coastal Kenedy-Northern Hidalgo-
429 AM CST Wed Feb 16 2022

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Deep South
Texas.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There is a high risk of rip currents along area beaches.

A Wind Advisory is in effect this morning through this afternoon
for Kenedy, Willacy, Hidalgo, and Cameron counties.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

An elevated risk of rip currents is expected into Saturday and
again Monday into Tuesday.

A Fire Watch is in effect late Thursday morning through Thursday
afternoon for Zapata, Jim Hogg, and Starr counties.

A Wind Advisory may be needed Monday and Tuesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed.

GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-171030-
Laguna Madre from the Port of Brownsville to the Arroyo Colorado-
Laguna Madre from the Arroyo Colorado To 5 NM north of Port
Mansfield TX-
Laguna Madre from 5 nm north of Port Mansfield to Baffin Bay TX-
Gulf waters from Port Mansfield to the Rio Grande out 20 nm-
Gulf waters from Baffin Bay to Port Mansfield out 20 nm-
Gulf waters from Port Mansfield to the Rio Grande extending from
20 to 60 nm-
Gulf waters from Baffin Bay to Port Mansfield extending from
20 to 60 nm-
429 AM CST Wed Feb 16 2022

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of The Gulf of
Mexico and The Laguna Madre.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Small Craft Advisories are in effect across Gulf of Mexico waters
out 60 nautical miles through tonight.

A Small Craft Advisory is in effect across the Laguna Madre from
mid morning into late tonight.

Occasional gale force wind gusts are possible this afternoon into
tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Small Craft Advisories are in effect across Gulf of Mexico waters
out 60 nautical miles through Thursday afternoon.

Additional Small Craft Advisories may be needed across all coastal
waters through Friday and again Monday into Tuesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Feb 16, 10:24 AM CST, 3 hours 36 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
1024 AM CST Wed Feb 16 2022

TXZ248>250-252-170000-
Zapata-Jim Hogg-Brooks-Starr-
Including the cities of Zapata, Hebbronville, Falfurrias,
Rio Grande City, and Roma
1024 AM CST Wed Feb 16 2022

...STRONG SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN
RANCHLANDS AND UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY THE REST OF THE MORNING
THROUGH AFTERNOON...

Surface observations indicate that strong southeast winds continue
to develop across northern and western portions of deep south
Texas late this morning. Southeast winds of 15 to 25 mph with
gusts of 30 to 35 mph are expected through the rest of the
morning into this afternoon. The winds will gradually decrease
through the evening hours after sunset.

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high
profile vehicle in cross winds, and secure outdoor objects.

Castillo

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, Brooks

When: February 16, 2:00 PM CST to February 18, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Brooks forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 27.032, -98.219 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The event known as the 755 Wildfire was estimated to have initiated around 2:00PM CST south of Encino, TX near the intersection of US-281 and FM 755. It burned until the afternoon of the 18th when it was announced to be 100 percent contained at 2:00PM CST. This wildfire consumed a total of 2,000 acres. A Spot Request submitted by the Texas A&M Fire Service on February 16th and the GOES-16 Day Land Cloud Fire RGB channel were used as a guide for the ignition time and very rapid spread that followed.

What these are

Wildfire: A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, February 2022

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 998109.