A red flag warning is in effect this afternoon for the Big Country, Concho Valley, and Coleman County for dry gusty southwest winds and tinder dry vegetation. Avoid burning and any outside activities that generate an open spark or flame.  Remember that a burn ban in is effect for Brown County.

Southwest 20 foot winds will increase to around 20 mph across much of the area on Thursday, with minimum relative humidities falling to 15 to 20

percent by afternoon. These factors combined with very dry fuels will support the potential for critical fire weather conditions, mainly west of a line from Brownwood to Junction.

A Red Flag Warning is a warning issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) to alert community organizations, firefighters, and citizens to the fact that conditions are ripe for the emergence of severe wildfires in the next 24 hours.