AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Critical fire weather conditions will continue Monday and for much of the week, as a Red Flag Warning continues across the entire Austin metro area.
A Red Flag Warning means that a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures could come together to create dangerous conditions for wildfires to grow out of control quickly.
Elevated fire conditions are expected to continue for the remainder of the week, with weekday highs reaching into the lower 80s each afternoon. Forecasters say there is a chance for showers and thunderstorms late Tuesday into Wednesday morning, and scattered showers Friday into Saturday.
Crews are working two significant wildfires near the Austin area, including the Das Goat fire in Medina County just west of San Antonio. Since Friday, the fire has burned more than 1,000 acres and is 70% contained as of Monday morning. Meanwhile, to our north in Coryell County, the Crittenburg Complex Fire north of Killeen has burned more than 33,175 acres and is 0% contained.
Fire officials say the danger will only grow as this week continues.
"As conditions across a large portion of the state worsen, wildfires that ignite are burning more intensely and are frequently resistant to control,” said Wes Moorehead, Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief. “Unfortunately, little to no precipitation is forecast for the immediate future and we expect the current level of wildfire activity to continue for some time.”