Warm Temperatures Arrive in Austin, But Strong Winds Raise Fire Risk

It feels like spring in Austin and Central Texas now, with sunny skies, warm days, and a chance of rain this week. But strong winds and dry weather have also made people in the region worried about fires.

It will be mostly cloudy on Tuesday with a slight chance of showers in the evening. Monday, it will get up to the upper 70s. There will be a greater chance of rain Tuesday morning before a dry, windy front comes through and brings highs back to the upper 70s. There will be a Fire Weather Watch from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday from the National Weather Service (NWS). This means that winds of up to 40 mph could quickly spread flames.

The risk is even higher in the Hill Country, where wind gusts can hit 50 mph. This is why the Texas A&M Forest Service has issued an extreme fire risk warning. Officials are telling people not to burn outside and to watch out for sparks that could spread fires quickly.

The weather will get cooler on Wednesday and Thursday, with highs in the low 70s and lows in the 40s and 50s at night. It will return to being in the low to mid-80s on Friday, though, when the South by Southwest event in Austin starts.

Officials say that people should have a plan for how to get out of their homes in case of wildfires and ask people to follow safety rules if things get worse. If an evacuation order is given, the officials stress how important it is to leave immediately to stay safe.

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