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The 755 Fire, located near Encino in Brooks County, started on the afternoon of February 16, 2022 off of County Road 755. Multiple local fire departments responded to assist with the wildfire along with state resources from Texas A&M Forest Service. Texas A&M Forest Service established unified command with the local jurisdiction.The fire exhibited erratic behavior, moving quickly in grass and thick brush. Approximately 50 structures were threatened and saved. Aviation assisted ground crews with a Large Air Tanker (LAT) making two retardant drops and an Air Attack (AA) providing aerial surveillance. Heavy equipment from Texas A&M Forest Service, Brooks County, and private entities were also utilized to secure a perimeter. A voluntary evacuation was placed for residences along County Road 304 but has since been lifted. The fire was caused by a roadside ignition which spread quickly with high wind speeds and dry

No watches are valid as of Fri Feb 18 14:24:02 UTC 2022.

No Mesoscale Discussions are in effect as of Fri Feb 18 14:24:02 UTC 2022.

SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0652 AM CST Fri Feb 18 2022 Valid 181300Z - 191200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Isolated thunderstorms are possible today from the coastal Carolinas to northern Florida. ...Synopsis/Discussion... In mid/upper levels, mean troughing will persist from the Canadian Arctic Islands and Hudson Bay to the east-central CONUS through the period. Initially, a positively tilted trough and associated lengthy vorticity banner were apparent from southern ON across parts of the Ohio Valley to the Ozarks, northwest TX and northwestern MX. This feature will elongate further and weaken, with its northern portion moving offshore from New England and the Mid-Atlantic, while the southern part slowly loses definition within a broad cyclonic- flow field. A trailing/northern-stream shortwave trough -- evident in moisture-channel imagery from southern MB to northwestern MN -- will reach southeastern ON and southern Lower MI by 12Z tomorrow. At the surface, 11Z analysis showed a cold front across portions of New England, the near-coastal Mid-Atlantic, central VA, western SC, the west-central FL Panhandle, and the north-central/west-central Gulf. This front will move offshore from all but northern FL by 03Z, then southeastward to south-central FL by 12Z. Isolated thunderstorms will remain possible in a narrow band of mostly prefrontal convection now located from coastal NC to the eastern FL Panhandle. With nearly front-parallel flow aloft, poor mid/upper- level lapse rates, weakening large-scale to frontal-scale lift, and veering prefrontal surface winds with time, severe potential appears minimal, despite lingering strong flow aloft. In the continental/polar air mass behind that cold front, another low (associated with the MB/MN perturbation aloft) was drawn over extreme southern MB, with cold front across northern parts of ND/MT. The latter front is forecast to sweep southward/southeastward over the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and lower/middle Missouri Valley, to near the Ohio Valley by the end of the period. Dry/stable low-level conditions in the prefrontal sector will prevent associated thunderstorm development. ..Edwards/Gleason.. 02/18/2022 Read more

Pennington Creek is low, prompting Tishomingo’s city manager to request stage one water conservation. City officials have been monitoring the creek for about a month, given the extreme drought. KXII-TV CBS 12 Sherman (Texas), Feb 17, 2022

The driest January on record leaves Santa Clara in a drought emergency. The Santa Clara Valley Water District anticipates needing to buy costly emergency water so the city has enough for the year. More conservation is needed. The Silicon Valley Voice (Santa Clara, Calif.), Feb 17, 2022

California’s State Water Board officials revealed the new “Water Watch” website, which offers drought monitoring, temperatures, snowpack, reservoir levels and streamflow information all in one location. Water Watch can be found at cww.water.ca.gov KSEE-TV NBC 24 Fresno (Fresno, Calif.), Feb 17, 2022

No watches are valid as of Thu Feb 17 15:31:02 UTC 2022.

This page will no longer be updated. Firefighters are currently engaged in a wildfire in Crockett County, located approximately 6 miles south of Barnhart on HWY 163. The Experiment Station #1 Fire started on February 15, 2022 at approximately 2:40 pm under elevated fire conditions. Texas A&M Forest Service is in unified command with local fire departments. The fire is burning in grass and brushy fuels. Additional resources are en route to assist with fire suppression

SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0652 AM CST Thu Feb 17 2022 Valid 171300Z - 181200Z ...THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING ACROSS PARTS OF THE MID-SOUTH AND TN VALLEY... ...SUMMARY... Severe thunderstorms are expected across portions of the Mid-South, Tennessee Valley, and the lower Ohio Valley, mainly later today into this evening. Damaging winds and a strong tornado or two will be possible. ...Mid South/TN Valley into the OH Valley through this evening... A midlevel shortwave trough over the Red River of TX/OK this morning will eject northeastward to the OH River by this evening, as an associated surface cyclone likewise develops northeastward from southeast OK this morning to southern OH this evening. In advance of a cold front trailing the surface cyclone, continued northward moisture transport will result in mid-upper 60s boundary-layer dewpoints reaching the Mid South this afternoon, and low-mid 60s into middle TN and AL by this evening/early tonight. Surface heating in cloud breaks and the increasing low-level moisture will result in MLCAPE of 500-750 J/kg in advance of the cold front this afternoon, especially near and east of the MS River. Thus far, overnight and morning convection across north TX/OK/western AR has not been particularly intense/organized. There is substantial uncertainty regarding how quickly any severe/tornado threat will increase during the day across AR, given widespread clouds and the saturated profile noted in the 12z LZK sounding. The primary threat for supercells in the warm sector may be delayed until mid afternoon across the Mid South, with broken bands of storms/embedded supercells along and ahead of the front spreading eastward into AL/Middle TN this evening. Despite the rather modest buoyancy and lapse rates expected, very strong low-level shear (curved hodographs with 300-500 m2/s2 0-1 km SRH) and effective bulk shear of 50-60 kt will favor supercells, and a storm or two could produce a strong tornado (in addition to damaging winds) this afternoon into this evening across northeast MS/northwest AL and adjacent areas of TN. Otherwise, a shallow/forced band of convection will likely accompany the surface cyclone and trailing cold front just to the south. Buoyancy will remain weak close to the OH River and some low-level static stability could persist through the day. However, profiles will be sensitive to changes of only a few degrees (from the low to the mid 60s), such that there is still some potential for damaging winds and a line-embedded tornado or two as far north as the cyclone track through this evening. Overnight, the severe threat will diminish with northeastward and eastward extent as a result of minimal buoyancy and the stronger forcing for ascent no longer phasing with the remaining weakly unstable warm sector to the south. ..Thompson/Gleason.. 02/17/2022 Read more

MD 0140 CONCERNING WINTER MIXED PRECIPITATION FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN OK...SOUTHERN/EASTERN KS...MUCH OF MO...AND FAR WESTERN IL
Mesoscale Discussion 0140 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0600 AM CST Thu Feb 17 2022 Areas affected...Portions of northern OK...southern/eastern KS...much of MO...and far western IL Concerning...Winter mixed precipitation Valid 171200Z - 171800Z SUMMARY...A wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow will spread northeastward this morning. Snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour appear likely. Blowing snow with reduced visibilities will also occur due to the strong winds. DISCUSSION...A mid-level shortwave trough ejecting over the southern/central Plains this morning and associated low-level frontogenesis/lift is supporting a large area of precipitation extending from parts of northern OK into KS and MO. At the surface, an arctic cold front will continue to move southward across the southern Plains, with sub-freezing temperatures occurring fairly quickly after its passage. Within the broad precipitation shield and north of the cold front, recent surface observations and mPING reports indicate a mix of wintry precipitation is ongoing. A fairly quick transition from freezing rain to sleet should occur behind the cold front, as low/mid-level temperatures will quickly cool with the approach of the shortwave trough. Moderate to locally heavy sleet may occur in a swath extending from parts of southeastern KS into southern/central MO based on consensus of short-term model guidance and observational trends. Where the low-level warm nose can erode more quickly, a band of moderate to heavy snow (already forming at 12Z) will further develop and subsequently spread northeastward through the morning. With strong lift occurring within the saturated dendritic growth zone, snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour appear likely within this band. The best potential for mainly snow and the greater snowfall rates should occur from parts of northern OK into south-central/east-central KS and western/central MO through midday. Due to an enhanced surface pressure gradient, strong/gusty winds will aid in blowing snow, which should reduce visibilities. ..Gleason.. 02/17/2022 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product... ATTN...WFO...ILX...LSX...DVN...SGF...EAX...TSA...TOP...ICT... OUN...DDC... LAT...LON 35989893 35979938 36249958 36469960 36739953 37199895 38499692 39799386 40219246 40309186 40159102 39829026 39398996 38868995 38219049 37809098 37359166 37079240 36829324 36589489 36439689 36169811 35989893 Read more

Most Marin County residents will be allowed to use their sprinklers again after a nearly three-month ban. The Marin Municipal Water District board voted unanimously on Feb. 15 to allow the district’s customers in central and southern Marin to use outdoor sprinklers and drip irrigation two days per week. Outdoor irrigation using tap water had been banned since Dec. 1 due to drought. Marin Independent Journal (Calif.), Feb 16, 2022 After a number of atmospheric rivers that brought tremendous rain to Marin County, the reservoirs have refilled from 32% to 74% of capacity on Dec. 17 and water officials were reconsidering some drought restrictions and penalties that were introduced earlier. Since July, the Marin Municipal Water District has received about 34 inches of rain, or about 240% of normal to date. The utility continues to plan for water projects like the $100 million pipeline across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge that would pump in water purchased from Yuba County. The district began planning the pipeline when it appeared that its local reservoir supplies could be depleted as soon as July 2022. The San Jose Mercury News (Calif.), Dec 19, 2021 Outdoor watering was no longer permitted in Marin if water use exceeds 65 gallons of water daily for a 4-person household. The aim is to conserve 40% district wide. Overall reservoir storage for the Marin Municipal Water District was at 58% of capacity, or 8% less than average for the date. CBS San Francisco (Calif.), Nov 30, 2021

 On February 15, 2022 at approximately 3:30 PM a wildfire 2.5 miles from the town of Iowa Park. Over 30 structures threatened, shed 1 building and 1 abandoned home lost. Locals responders had 15 direct saves. State resources from Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) are on scene and have begun to create dozer line. TAMFS and local responders are working in unified

On February 15, 2022, at 2:00 PM, a wildfire started approximately 10 miles Northeast from the town of Jacksboro. The cause of the fire is unknown. Local responders along with State resources from Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) are currently engaged. There are three structures that are threatened with no losses. No road closures were reported at this time. TAMFS is in unified command with local fire

This page will no longer be updated. Firefighters are currently engaged in multiple wildfires in Irion County, located approximately 10 miles southwest of Mertzon on HWY 67. The Seep Draw Complex started on February 15, 2022 at approximately 2:30 pm under elevated fire conditions. Texas A&M Forest Service is in unified command with local fire departments. The fire is burning in grass and brushy fuels. Multiple structures have been reported as threatened. Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) resources are on scene assisting with fire suppression

Firefighters responded to the 735 Fire on Tuesday, February 15 in Jim Wells County north of Palito Blanco near County Road 735. The fire was actively burning in grass and heavy brush. Heavy brush created access issues. Texas A&M Forest Service assisted with heavy equipment and worked the western flank of the fire up to the head using roads to establish a perimeter. Local fire departments worked the eastern flank to secure a containment line. Forward progression has been stopped. Structures were threatened and saved with firefighters working late into the night to secure containment near structures and any other areas of