Fewer Texas counties have burn bans in effect compared to this time three months ago, but drought conditions have become more severe for Scurry County and most of West Texas, according to information released by U.S. Drought Monitor.
As of Wedesday, 87 counties in Texas, including Scurry, have issued outdoor burn bans, compared to 123 counties three months ago, officials said. However, drought conditions in many West Texas and Panhandle counties range from severe to exceptional.
Scurry County is currently listed as under severe drought conditions, compared to being listed as “abnormally dry” three months ago. More than 20 percent of Texas counties are in a severe drought status, compared to 10 percent in January.
Conditions are worst in the Panhandle, where 38 counties are listed as having either extreme or exceptional drought conditions. Overall, 4 percent of Texas’ counties are listed in exceptional drought status, compared to none in January.
This area is currently under a fire weather watch until Friday evening. High temperatures, wind gusts expected to reach 35 mph and forecasted humidity below 10 percent makes the chance for fire extremely likely, the National Weather Service stated.
“What it means is that it will take next to nothing to start a fire,” Snyder Fire Department Chief Perry Westmoreland said Wednesday. “When you have the combination of high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds, and you throw in vegetation that is very dry to begin with, almost anything that can generate a spark can start a grass fire.”