Extreme Wildfire Danger: Texas Wildfires

[srainhoutx]

Live streaming via KLJB Radio...

http://tunein.com/radio/KLBJ-590-s33670/

[Portastorm]

So far, 25 homes have been destroyed in the Steiner Ranch area (west Travis County).

[srainhoutx]

Gang, I've sticky'd this thread so it will be at the top and hopefully more folks will see it...

[Portastorm]

Residents who live in Bastrop and who are downwind of the fires are being told now to be ready to evacuate for as along as a week. They are being told to pack now.

Meanwhile, a critical call for any and all available firefighters has gone out here in Central Texas. Anyone with firefighting experience is asked to call (512) 978-1187.

[jeff]

I cannot stress how dangerous tomorrow is going to be. PM winds 30-40mph with RH less than 20% all areas. Massive fires are likely and they will be unstoppable. Fire lines will be compromised. Everyone should have a plan of action for a wildfire and be prepared to use it on Monday if needed. Hundreds of more homes are going to be lost.

Central TX, no help tonight as cold front is surging southward and winds are already 20-30mph at Austin and those winds will continue overnight with no RH recovery. Ongoing fires will continue to burn out of control.

[srainhoutx]

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FIRE WARNING
TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TEXAS
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
1029 PM CDT SUN SEP 4 2011

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE BASTROP
COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS.

ALL RESIDENTS IN THE TAHITIAN VILLAGE SUBDIVISION...THE COLOVISTA
SUBDIVISION...AND THE COLONY MUST EVACUATE NOW. THIS IS A MANDATORY
EVACUATION.

A MANDATORY EVACUATION NOTICE REMAINS IN EFFECT DUE TO ONGOING
WILDFIRES FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...

ALL OF CIRCLE D COUNTY ACRES AREA...ALL OF THE COLONY...ALL OF THE
LAKE BASTROP ACRES SUBDIVISION...PINE VIEW WEST...LAKE BASTROP
PINE...ALL OF TAHITIAN VILLAGE...COLOVISTA...ALAN CREEK...BASTROP
STATE PARK...COTTLE TOWN TO THE RIVER...RESIDENTS ALONG HARMON
ROAD AND PINE HILL LOOP...ALL HOMES ON SCHWANTZ RANCH ROAD...ALL
HOMES ON OLD POTATO ROAD...AND ALL HOMES ALONG HIGHWAY 21 EAST
EXTENDING TO PAIGE...ALL HOMES FROM 2571 FURR MAYS ROAD WEST TO
HIGHWAY 304 AND FM 2571...RESIDENTS ALONG YOUNG SCHOOL HOUSE ROAD
AND HALL ROAD...EISLEY ROAD...TINER CUTOFF...OAK HILL CEMETERY
ROAD...CRAPE MYRTLE DRIVE...AND HERRON TRAIL...ALL RESIDENTS IN
PINE VALLEY LOOP....LA REATA SUBDIVISION...AND ALL HOMES ON
WILHELM WAY...LEE ROAD...WHITWORTH LANE...AND ON THE EASTERN SIDE
OF WATTERSON ROAD.

[Portastorm]

Jeff, considering how many homes we've lost in my area today (and are continuing to lose as the night wears on), your estimate of "hundreds of homes" being lost tomorrow may be conservative. If we have these kinds of fires across the state today and tomorrow the conditions will worse ... I just ... I can't imagine.

[srainhoutx]

Our friends at Americanwx have a pinned thread concerning the wildfires as well

http://www.americanwx.com/bb/index.php/ ... d-drought/

[Portastorm]

It is a little unnerving. I just let the dog out and the smell of smoke is becoming stronger ... and more predominant. Very strange night.

[txsnowmaker]

It is a little unnerving. I just let the dog out and the smell of smoke is becoming stronger ... and more predominant. Very strange night.

Hang in there, Portastorm, and everyone else and their loved ones who may be in harm's way. Lots of good thoughts and prayers going your way.

[Portastorm]

I'll tell you one thing ... the Austin news media (outside of KLBJ radio) has really blown coverage on this. I'm getting much better, more current information on the fires via Twitter and via the Texas Storm Chasers Facebook page than from Austin TV stations (who are showing hours old video).

[singlemom]

I'll tell you one thing ... the Austin news media (outside of KLBJ radio) has really blown coverage on this. I'm getting much better, more current information on the fires via Twitter and via the Texas Storm Chasers Facebook page than from Austin TV stations (who are showing hours old video).

Agreed. Same story for East Texas - better coverage on Texas Storm Chasters and here (and KLBJ has done an outstanding job just for information). I'm kind of worried about tomorrow, though.....

[srainhoutx]

Social media does seem to 'get the word' out faster sometimes and with the Holiday Weekend, information has been at a premuim. I just sent a tweet via our twitter page and Aaron Dooley of Severe Studios has just set up a live stream just E of Bastrop...

http://www.severestudios.com/cgi-bin/pl ... ey&uid=127

[srainhoutx]

Another e-mail from Jeff:

Extraordinary Wildfire event unfolding across Texas!
Anyone with fire fighting experience is being asked to call 512-978-1187 (all fire fighting resources are depleted at this time around Austin and across central TX)

Fires are moving so fast that ground crews are taking defensive measures around structures only/or evacuating downstream of the fire and pulling ground crews. Fire lines are being nearly continuously overrun on all the major fires with the strong winds in place. Thousands of homes are being threatened and hundreds are burning.

Bastrop Fire: Over 14,000 acres burning (fire is 16 miles long). 1000’s homes threatened, 300 homes lost. Fire has jumped the Colorado River in two locations. Massive evacuations are in progress. Residents in The Colony, Colovista and Tahitian Village Subdivisions must leave immediately, the fire is rapidly approaching these areas. All ground fire-fighting crews have been pulled from the front side of this fire as this fire has developed into a full-fledged fire storm with strong inflow and outflow winds near the fire resulting in erratic and very dangerous fire spread. Ground crews cannot hold front fire lines. Countless agencies are responding with at least 30 fire departments on scene and mutual aid requested from the entire state of TX. Heavy air support is dropping both water and fire retardant. Numerous roads are closed including HWY 21 and HWY 71. Fire is 0% contained

Steiner Ranch Fire: 4,000 homes threatened, 25 homes lost. Fire continues to burn in heavy brush and Cedar trees in NW Travis County near Lake Travis. Much of the Steiner Ranch area is under a mandatory evacuation order. Fire is 0% contained.

Columbus Fire: 2,000 acres burning near I-10 on the east side of Columbus. TFS dozer crews are cutting fire lines while local fire departments are offering structure protection. Fire is 20% contained.

LaGrange Fire: Heavy brush and grass fire on the north side of HWY 71 near LaGrange. Numerous homes are threatened some have been lost. No estimate on containment.

Walker County Fire: 500 acres burning near I-45 and FM 1696. 100 homes threatened. No estimate on containment.

N Hays County Fire: 25 acre fire in heavy grass. 4 homes burned, at least 50 threatened. No estimate on containment.

Spicewood Fire: 400 acres on the SW side of Lake Travis. Homes are burning, numerous homes are threatened.

Forecast:
Absolutely horrible fire weather conditions for Monday. Cold front now surging SE through C TX will reach the coast late tonight and strong NW winds will return. In Central TX winds of 20-30mph will continue now through Monday evening. Very dangerous fire weather conditions are in place and will continue with rapid spread and large long crown runs. All areas will be at critical conditions by 900am Monday and continue through 900pm Monday.

This is a very dangerous fire weather situation. Have a plan if a fire approaches your area, you may only have minutes to leave. If told to evacuate do so immediately, it will save your life!

[srainhoutx]

Live scanner feed from Bastrop...

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audi ... feedId=529

Wunderground maps of fire area...

http://www.wunderground.com/wundermap/? ... mreports=0

[srainhoutx]

Bastrop fire...

[srainhoutx]

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
936 PM CDT SUN SEP 4 2011

...STRONG NORTHERLIES TO PERSIST THROUGH LABOR DAY...

.A TIGHT BACKSIDE GRADIENT CREATED BY TROPICAL DEPRESSION LEE...
IN TANDEM WITH A PASSING EARLY LABOR DAY COLD FRONT...WILL HAVE
MODERATE TO STRONG NORTH WINDS IN PLACE THROUGH THE DAY. GUSTY
WINDS WILL AGAIN THREATEN TO TAKE DOWN DROUGHT WEAKEN SMALL TREES
AND OR LIMBS. DRY AIR COMING IN BEHIND THIS COLD FRONT WILL WORK
WITH NORTH WINDS TO LOWER HUMIDITIES TO BELOW 25 PERCENT. THUS...
THERE WILL ALSO BE A CONTINUED ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER THREAT.

TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>212-226-227-235-060000-
/O.EXT.KHGX.WI.Y.0025.110905T1500Z-110906T0000Z/
AUSTIN-BRAZOS-BURLESON-COLORADO-FORT BEND-GRIMES-HOUSTON-JACKSON-
LIBERTY-MADISON-MONTGOMERY-POLK-SAN JACINTO-TRINITY-WALKER-WALLER-
WASHINGTON-WHARTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BELLVILLE...BRENHAM...BROOKSHIRE...
BRYAN...CALDWELL...CLEVELAND...COLDSPRING...COLLEGE STATION...
COLUMBUS...CONROE...CORRIGAN...CROCKETT...DAYTON...EAGLE LAKE...
EDNA...EL CAMPO...GROVETON...HEMPSTEAD...HUNTSVILLE...
LAKE SOMERVILLE...LIBERTY...LIVINGSTON...MADISONVILLE...
MISSOURI CITY...NAVASOTA...ONALASKA...PIERCE...PRAIRIE VIEW...
RICHMOND...ROSENBERG...SEALY...SHEPHERD...SUGAR LAND...
THE WOODLANDS...TRINITY...WEIMAR...WHARTON...WILLIS
936 PM CDT SUN SEP 4 2011

...WIND ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM CDT MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON/GALVESTON HAS ISSUED A
WIND ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM CDT MONDAY.
THE WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

* TIMING...STRONG WINDS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH LABOR DAY AFTERNOON.

* IMPACT...STRONG WINDS WILL INCREASE THE THREAT FOR SPREADING
WILDFIRES. BOATING CONDITIONS WILL BE ROUGH ON AREA LAKES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DRIVERS OF VANS...CAMPERS...TRAILERS...AND OTHER HIGH-PROFILE
VEHICLES SHOULD BE ALERT TO THE DANGER OF THESE WINDS...
ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ALONG EAST TO WEST ORIENTED ROADS

DRIVERS OF VANS...CAMPERS...TRAILERS...AND OTHER HIGH-PROFILE
VEHICLES SHOULD BE ALERT TO THE DANGER OF THESE WINDS...
ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ALONG EAST TO WEST ORIENTED ROADS.

BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-HARRIS-MATAGORDA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALVIN...ANAHUAC...ANGLETON...BAY CITY...
FREEPORT...FRIENDSWOOD...GALVESTON...HOUSTON...HUMBLE...KATY...
LAKE JACKSON...LEAGUE CITY...MONT BELVIEU...PALACIOS...PASADENA...
PEARLAND...TEXAS CITY...TOMBALL...WINNIE
936 PM CDT SUN SEP 4 2011

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT MONDAY...

* EVENT...NORTH WINDS AT 20 TO 30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS NEAR 35
MPH.

* TIMING...STRONG WINDS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH LABOR DAY.

* IMPACT...STRONG WINDS WILL INCREASE THE THREAT FOR WILDFIRES
SPREADING. BOATING CONDITIONS WILL BE ROUGH ON AREA LAKES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DRIVERS OF VANS...CAMPERS...TRAILERS...AND OTHER HIGH-PROFILE
VEHICLES SHOULD BE ALERT TO THE DANGER OF THESE WINDS...
ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ALONG EAST TO WEST ORIENTED ROADS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DRIVERS OF VANS...CAMPERS...TRAILERS...AND OTHER HIGH-PROFILE
VEHICLES SHOULD BE ALERT TO THE DANGER OF THESE WINDS...
ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ALONG EAST TO WEST ORIENTED ROADS.

[srainhoutx]

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
856 PM CDT SUN SEP 4 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH 10 PM MONDAY EVENING FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES ACROSS ALL OF SOUTH
CENTRAL TEXAS...

.STRONG AND GUSTY NORTH WINDS WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT AND THROUGH
MONDAY. THESE WINDY CONDITIONS COUPLED WITH VERY LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
CONTINUING THROUGH MONDAY. RELATIVE HUMIDITIES THIS EVENING WILL
GENERALLY BE BETWEEN 20 TO 30 PERCENT. HOWEVER...POOR OVERNIGHT
MOISTURE RECOVERY IS EXPECTED...WITH MAXIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES
REMAINING AT OR BELOW 60 PERCENT MONDAY MORNING. DUE TO THE VERY
DRY...STRONG AND GUSTY NORTH WINDS OVERNIGHT...WILDFIRES WILL
CONTINUE TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL DESPITE THE SLIGHTLY HIGHER
HUMIDITIES OVERNIGHT.


TXZ171>173-183>194-202>209-217>225-228-051400-
/O.CAN.KEWX.FW.W.0021.000000T0000Z-110905T0400Z/
/O.EXT.KEWX.FW.W.0022.110905T0156Z-110906T0300Z/
LLANO-BURNET-WILLIAMSON-VAL VERDE-EDWARDS-REAL-KERR-BANDERA-
GILLESPIE-KENDALL-BLANCO-HAYS-TRAVIS-BASTROP-LEE-KINNEY-UVALDE-
MEDINA-BEXAR-COMAL-GUADALUPE-CALDWELL-FAYETTE-MAVERICK-ZAVALA-
FRIO-ATASCOSA-WILSON-KARNES-GONZALES-DE WITT-LAVACA-DIMMIT-
856 PM CDT SUN SEP 4 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT MONDAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES ACROSS ALL OF SOUTH
CENTRAL TEXAS...

* AFFECTED AREA...THE FOLLOWING SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNTIES...
LLANO...BURNET...WILLIAMSON...VAL VERDE...EDWARDS...REAL...
KERR...BANDERA...GILLESPIE...KENDALL...BLANCO...HAYS...
TRAVIS...BASTROP...LEE...KINNEY...UVALDE...MEDINA...BEXAR...
COMAL...GUADALUPE...CALDWELL...FAYETTE...MAVERICK...ZAVALA...
FRIO...ATASCOSA...WILSON...KARNES...GONZALES...DE WITT...
LAVACA...DIMMIT.

* 20-FOOT WIND...NORTH 15 TO 25 MPH AND GUSTY.

* HUMIDITY...LESS THAN 60 PERCENT OVERNIGHT AND 10 TO 20 PERCENT ON
MONDAY.

* THUNDERSTORMS...NONE.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY AND WILL BE
DIFFICULT TO CONTAIN. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. AVOID THE USE OF OPEN
FLAMES OR ANY ACTIVITIES THAN MAY GENERATE SPARKS. ACCIDENTAL
IGNITIONS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GROW QUICKLY INTO DANGEROUS
WIND DRIVEN WILDFIRES.

[srainhoutx]

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
350 PM CDT SUN SEP 4 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH MONDAY...

.A DRY AIR MASS ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS WILL EXACERBATE
THE DRY ANTECEDENT CONDITIONS IN PLACE ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH
MONDAY. CRITICAL WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUS FIRE GROWTH
POTENTIAL.

TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-060200-
/O.CON.KHGX.FW.W.0012.000000T0000Z-110905T0000Z/
/O.CON.KHGX.FW.W.0013.110905T1500Z-110906T0200Z/
AUSTIN-BRAZORIA-BRAZOS-BURLESON-CHAMBERS-COLORADO-FORT BEND-
GALVESTON-GRIMES-HARRIS-HOUSTON-JACKSON-LIBERTY-MADISON-MATAGORDA-
MONTGOMERY-POLK-SAN JACINTO-TRINITY-WALKER-WALLER-WASHINGTON-
WHARTON-
350 PM CDT SUN SEP 4 2011

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 163...164...176...177...178...179...195...196...197...198...
199...200...210...211...212...213...214...226...227...235...236...
237 AND 238...

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 163...164...176...177...
178...179...195...196...197...198...199...200...210...211...
212...213...214...226...227...235...236...237 AND 238.

* WIND...NORTH TO NORTHWEST 15 TO 30 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...20 TO 30 PERCENT MINIMUM THIS AFTERNOON AND 15 TO
25 PERCENT MONDAY AFTERNOON.

* THUNDERSTORMS...NONE EXPECTED. SCATTERED SHOWERS THROUGH THIS
EVENING...THEN DRY ON MONDAY.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY.
AN OUTDOOR BURN BAN IS IN EFFECT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
GENERATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

[srainhoutx]

SCP Fire Danger/Critical:

...PORTIONS OF CNTRL/ERN TX...
NO CHANGES ARE NECESSARY FOR THE ONGOING CRITICAL DELINEATION
LOCATED OVER PORTIONS OF CNTRL/ERN TX. TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT
POSITIONED S OF SURFACE HIGH CENTERED OVER THE UPR MS VALLEY WILL
AID IN SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS FROM 20-25 MPH. POTENTIAL FOR HIGH END
GUSTS SHOULD BE LOWER TODAY AS NLY LOW-LEVEL SPEED MAX W OF TROPICAL
DEPRESSION LEE SHIFTS EWD DURING THE AFTERNOON. GPS DERIVED PWAT
IMAGERY SHOWS VALUES AOB 0.50 IN MOVING SWD ACROSS SRN KS/NRN OK AT
04Z...AND LATEST MODEL OUTPUT ADVECTS THIS DRY AIRMASS SWD THROUGH
MUCH OF TX BY LATE AFTERNOON. WITH TEMPERATURES WARMING INTO THE 80S
ACROSS CNTRL/ERN TX...MIN RH VALUES FROM 15-25 PERCENT APPEAR
PROBABLE. THESE CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH ONGOING EXTREME/EXCEPTIONAL
DROUGHT WILL FAVOR A CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER THREAT.