The National Weather Service in Austin has issued a Red Flag warning in effect through 4 p.m. today, Jan. 25, for the Rio Grande Valley that places all of South Central Texas in a moderate danger zone due to low humidity and strong northwest winds. Low relative humidity values and gusty north to northwest winds behind a dry cold front will produce locally critical fire weather conditions across portions of the Rio Grande Plains, read the early morning alert. Rapid fire growth and spread will likely occur in cured fuels such as dry grasses. Winds initially will be out of the northwest at 10-20 mph with gusts to near 25 mph this morning before becoming more northerly as they weaken this afternoon. Relative humidity values, now around 36 percent, could fall below 20 percent and remain below those levels until around sunset. Winds should weaken to help decrease fire spread concerns by 4 p.m.
