Firefighters getting no breaks from weather with record heat forecast for Dallas-Fort Worth
Firefighters getting no breaks from weather with record heat forecast for Dallas-Fort Worth
18 April 2011
published by www.dallasnews.com
USA — The Dallas-Fort Worth area could see record-setting heat this week, more bad news for firefighters battling huge blazes west of Fort Worth.
Temperatures are expected to top 90 degrees Monday before possibly rising to a record high Tuesday. The mercury would have to exceed 93 to top the record set on April 19, 1996.
The summerlike heat, coupled with low humidity and ongoing windy conditions, is a nightmare scenario for fire officials. A red flag warning is in effect this afternoon.
It’s not really going to be favorable for firefighters, said Dennis Cavanaugh, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Fort Worth. These conditions just arent improving any time soon.
Relative humidity will be very low at 10 percent, Cavanaugh said, and winds will be 15 to 20 mph, not as bad as last week but still a concern. Officials say the low humidity and high winds allow embers from wildfires to travel long distances.
Rain could provide some relief Thursday, but the chances of isolated storms are low, at 10 percent.
As for the possible record high, its still well below the highest temperature recorded in April: 101 on April 17, 2006.
Theres no danger of hitting the record low for April 19: 36, set in 1953.
