New Week to Bring New Risk of Wildfires in the Southwest and the Plains

A large swath of the Southwest into the Plains states will be under a heightened risk of wildfire danger in the coming days, thanks to the weather elements coming along with a potent storm system. Read on for the details of this threat, including timing and impact areas.

Dangerous Fire Weather Expands Across the Southwest and Plains

A storm across the Rockies will fuel the threat of wildfires through the middle of the week. The same weather maker that is forecast to jumpstart a severe weather outbreak in the central U.S. early this week will also raise concerns about wildfires in the Southwest and the Plains. The gusty winds associated with the storm will pair with the low relative humidity levels to amplify the threat. A lack of rainfall over the last several weeks is also a factor in the concern that things could turn south quickly.

Two areas will experience favorable conditions for wildfire start and spread. The first zone is centered across the Central Valley Desert in California. While the risk will be lower on Monday than on Sunday, the region is not out of the woods yet.

The second zone of concern includes a swath of land from New Mexico and into western Texas, eastern Colorado, and western Kansas. The highest risk within this zone is across eastern New Mexico, the southeastern corner of Colorado, and southwestern Kansas.

Residents in all of the potential areas of concern should exercise extreme caution when operating outdoor power equipment. It is also important to be careful when working with open flames. One little spark could explode into a wildfire if the winds grab hold of it at the right time.

In addition to the elevated threat of wildfire ignition, forecasters are also warning that fire crews will have challenges containing any blazes that get going. The gusty winds expected with this weather system will naturally present difficulties for crews on the scene.

Places such as Amarillo, Texas, are under a red flag warning through midnight Monday. Winds out of the southwest at 25 to 35 mph will combine with temperatures that approach the century mark to make conditions susceptible to wildfire outbreaks. While the winds will remain a problem on Tuesday, temperatures will take a dramatic tumble. Tuesday's highs in Amarillo are only expected to reach the low 70s. Wednesday's high will struggle to climb out of the mid 60s, ushering in relief from the fire-conducive conditions.

Storms Could Bring Limited Relief Later This Week

It has been a dry spring for much of the Southwest. That trend is going to continue through the balance of the weekend, with little relief in sight for the parched landscape. For instance, temperatures are only going to increase throughout the week in Phoenix. The Valley of the Sun is forecast to be back in the upper 90s by Friday and heading into the weekend.

There is better news on the horizon for the Plains by the end of the week. Several rounds of rain showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast for parts of southeastern New Mexico to the northeast into western Tennessee and Mississippi. Although the rain associated with this active weather pattern is welcome for the drought-stricken parts of the country, the frequent lightning strikes embedded in the storms could also ignite new wildfires.