Texas faces extreme heat and wildfire risks as heat dome returns

Texas is facing a return of extreme heat and high fire danger as a heat dome moves back over the region. While scattered thunderstorms may provide some relief in the Hill Country, South Central, and Southeast Texas on Friday, rain chances are expected to diminish quickly.

In the Texas Panhandle, temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 107 degrees by Sunday. The National Weather Service in Amarillo has issued heat risk warnings, noting that conditions could escalate from moderate-to-major on Saturday to major-to-extreme on Sunday. This intense heat is expected to persist through early next week and potentially into the Labor Day holiday.

Due to dry and combustible conditions, burn bans are currently in effect for 200 of the state’s 254 counties. Fire danger is rated as high to very high across eastern Texas, with risks increasing again toward the end of the weekend as temperatures rise and winds pick up.