Fire Weather Watch for Vernon; Rapides; Avoyelles +15 more

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...RED FLAG WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA FRIDAY... .With the ongoing drought conditions, we have KBDI values well into the 700s, with 10-hour and 100-hour fuel moisture values hovering around 25%. Subsidence behind the front will further dry out the already dry continental air mass, leading to a significant drop in dew points following the front. The forecast drops RH values below 30% across central Louisiana and the interior portions of southeast Texas. Friday through Sunday look to be concerning for fire weather. However, Saturday appears to be the most critical day as the dry, subsided airmass becomes fully entrenched over the highly dried out fuels. This setup is similar to the weather conditions that sparked the Tiger Island fire in 2023, and fires that do spark could quickly spread out of control.. The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has issued a Fire Weather Watch for high winds and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Friday morning through late Friday night. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 027 Vernon, Fire Weather Zone 028 Rapides, Fire Weather Zone 029 Avoyelles, Fire Weather Zone 030 Beauregard, Fire Weather Zone 031 Allen, Fire Weather Zone 032 Evangeline, Fire Weather Zone 033 St. Landry, Fire Weather Zone 044 Lafayette, Fire Weather Zone 045 Upper St. Martin, Fire Weather Zone 141 Northern Calcasieu, Fire Weather Zone 142 Northern Jefferson Davis, Fire Weather Zone 143 Northern Acadia, Fire Weather Zone 180 Tyler, Fire Weather Zone 201 Hardin, Fire Weather Zone 259 Northern Jasper, Fire Weather Zone 260 Northern Newton, Fire Weather Zone 261 Southern Jasper and Fire Weather Zone 262 Southern Newton. * TIMING...From Friday morning through late Friday night. * WINDS...North 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 35 percent. * TEMPERATURES...Up to 87. * LIGHTNING... * IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.