Texas, 2026Wildfire in Texas, March 19 to 23, 2026
March 19 to 23, 2026 · NWS BRO · 1 event in 1 county or zone
After weeks of elevated to critical wildfire growth/spread conditions, one large wildfire rapidly developed and spread in western Kenedy County. The wildfire consumed over 2,000 acres on ranch country.
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- 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.
After weeks of elevated to critical wildfire growth/spread conditions, one large wildfire rapidly developed and spread in western Kenedy County. The wildfire consumed over 2,000 acres on ranch country.
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 Mar 19, 11:16 AM CST, 2 hours 44 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Updated at 1214 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 Key Messages: * Warm and dry weather continues into late next week. * Wildfire threat remains elevated across Deep South Texas.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 19, 11:16 AM CST, 2 hours 44 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
1216 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026
...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, MARINE...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1214 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026
Key Messages:
* Warm and dry weather continues into late next week.
* Wildfire threat remains elevated across Deep South Texas.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1214 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026
High pressure dominates Deep South Texas into late next week,
with temperatures once again warming above normal and no chance of
rain. Breezy southeasterly winds each afternoon may help maintain
relative humidity values above any fire weather criteria along
and east of US281/I69C. Relative humidity values to the west
across the brush country will drop below 20-30 percent each
afternoon, but do so without the breeze, until the evening, when
moisture is recovering, potentially limiting additional fire
weather concerns at this time.
The entire region remains primed for wildfires and burn bans are
in effect across all of Deep South Texas, except Kenedy County.
CPC is leaning toward above normal rainfall occurring during the
final week of March at 40-50 percent probability.
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1214 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026
VFR conditions are expected to prevail through the TAF period,
with a southeasterly wind.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 1214 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026
Southeasterly winds persist through the forecast period with
generally favorable marine conditions. Afternoon breezes across
the bay may occasionally kick up a moderate chop or brief Small
Craft Caution gusts.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
BROWNSVILLE 61 85 64 87 / 0 0 0 0
HARLINGEN 57 90 60 92 / 0 0 0 0
MCALLEN 61 93 65 95 / 0 0 0 0
RIO GRANDE CITY 58 92 60 95 / 0 0 0 0
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND 66 77 68 78 / 0 0 0 0
BAYVIEW/PORT ISABEL 60 84 63 86 / 0 0 0 0
&&
.BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...None.
GM...None.
&&
SHORT TERM...56-Hallman
LONG TERM....56-Hallman
AVIATION...56-Hallman
Wildfire, Inland Kenedy County
- When
- March 19, 2:00 PM CST to March 23, 5:12 PM CST
- Where
- Inland Kenedy County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 26.928, -97.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) and other state/federal agencies reported a 2,245 acre wildfire that rapidly grew in western Kenedy County on March 19, 2026. The wildfire, named Armstrong Oaks, would gradually be contained over the next couple of days, and be considered out on March 23. Damage to infrastructure or property is unknown. The wildfire was considered to be human-caused.
- 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.
- Heat in Arizona, March 19, 20261 death · 1 event
- Wildfire in Oklahoma, March 19 to 31, 2026$115,000 · 2 events
- High Wind in Montana, March 19 to 20, 202674 kt wind · 11 events
- High Wind in Montana, March 19, 2026$3,000 · 92 kt wind · 10 events
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: 1327590.