In a year of contrasting extremes, Europe witnessed scorching heatwaves but also catastrophic flooding, withering droughts, violent storms and its largest wildfire
The southern Plains are expected to see extreme fire weather Friday that could extend through Saturday. AFP

KEY POINTS

  • There is an extremely high risk of critical fire weather in the southern Plains from Friday through Saturday
  • The NWS has placed large swathes of Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma under red flag warnings
  • Parts of New Mexico, Colorado and Missouri are also under red flag warnings Friday

Large swathes of the United States will experience a "severe weather outbreak" from Friday through Saturday, the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) warned late Thursday, further noting that it is expecting "extremely critical fire weather" across parts of the Southern Plains Friday.

Multiple areas have been placed under red flag warnings, which are usually issued when there is expectation "for catastrophic grassland fire danger."

Very High Risk of Critical Fire Weather in Southern Plains

According to the NWS Weather Prediction Center's three-day outlook, it is expecting an extreme risk for fire weather from northern Texas and central Oklahoma to southern Kansas, essentially most of the Southern Plains Friday.

It also urged residents across western and southern Texas to stay updated on critical fire weather conditions through Saturday.

Residents placed under red flag warnings are encouraged to avoid outdoor burning Friday as the weather conditions subject the affected areas under a "particularly dangerous situation where a risk of property damage or loss of life could occur."

Red Flag Warnings for Southern Plains

The following areas have been placed under red flag warnings from Friday morning through late night:

  • Kansas – Chase, Butler, Greenwood, Woodson, Allen, Sedgwick, Sumner, Cowley, Elk, Wilson, Neosho, Chautauqua, Montgomery, Labette, Russell, Lincoln, Barton, Ellsworth, Saline, Rice, McPherson, Marion, Reno, Harvey, Kingman, Harper, Stafford, Pratt, Barber, Republic, Washington, Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Cloud, Dickinson, Riley, Lyon, Douglas, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Morris, Coffey, Anderson
  • Texas – Sacramento Foothills, Guadalupe Mountains, Chaves Plains, Eddy Plains, Lea, Gaines, Dawson, Borden, Scurry, Andrews, Martin, Howard, Mitchell, Loving, Winkler, Ector, Midland, Glasscock, Ward, Crane, Upton, Reagan, Pecos, Terrell, Guadalupe Mountains above 7,000 feet, Delaware Mountains, Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor, eastern Culberson, Reeves County Plains, Chinati Mountains, Marfa Plateau, Davis Mountains, Davis Mountains Foothills, central Brewster, Chisos Basin, Presidio Valley, lower Brewster County, La Salle, McMullen, Live Oak, Bee, Webb, Duval, Jim Wells, inland Kleberg, inland Nueces, inland San Patricio, Fisher, Nolan, Sterling, Coke, Runnels, Irion, Tom Green, Concho, Crockett, Schleicher, Sutton, Haskell, Throckmorton, Jones, Shackelford, Taylor, Callahan, Coleman, Brown, McCulloch, San Saba, Menard, Kimble, Mason, Bailey, Lamb, Hale, Cochran, Hockley, Lubbock, Crosby, Yoakum, Terry, Lynn, Garza, Parmer, Castro, Swisher, Briscoe, Hall, Childress, Floyd, Motley, Cottle, Dickens, King, Kent, Stonewall, Deaf Smith, Randall, Collingsworth, Palo Duro Canyon
  • New Mexico – northeast Plains and east central Plains
  • Oklahoma – Harper, Woods, Ellis, Woodward, Roger Mills, Alfalfa, Grant, Kay, Major, Garfield, Noble, Dewey, Custer, Blaine, Kingfisher, Logan, Payne, Beckham, Washita, Caddo, Canadian, Lincoln, Grady, McClain, Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Hughes, Harmon, Greer, Kiowa, Jackson, Tillman, Comanche, Stephens, Garvin, Murray, Pontotoc, Coal, Cotton, Jefferson, Carter, Johnston, Atoka, Love, Marshall, Bryan, Hardeman, Foard, Wilbarger, Wichita, Knox, Baylor, Archer, Clay, Benton, Carroll, Washington, Nowata, Craig, Ottawa, Pawnee, Tulsa, Rogers, Mayes, Delaware, Creek, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Wagoner, Cherokee, Adair, Muskogee, McIntosh, Sequoyah, Pittsburg, Haskell, Latimer, Le Flore
  • Colorado – southern El Paso County, Huerfano, western Las Animas, Crowley, Otero, eastern Las Animas
  • Missouri – Fire weather zones 001, 002, 003, 004, 005, 006, 007, 008, 011, 012, 013, 014, 015, 016, 017, 020, 021, 022, 023, 024, 025, 028, 031, 033, 037, 038, 044, 045, 046, 053, 054

The NWS warned further Thursday that should any fires start from Friday through Saturday, wildfires are expected to spread "very, very quickly."

It urged residents to protect themselves and their community "by not being a potential source of wildfires" and immediately call 911 if they spot any smoke or flames in their areas.

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