Red Flag Warning | Texas Weather 6 AM

Good morning! I'm Aaron Jolly. And welcome to the Texas Weather Podcast. It's Tuesday, February 24th.. And February has completely lost the plot. Folks, we've got 90 degree heat on the horizon. In February. But first, let's talk about today, because the wind is the real troublemaker. Red Flag Warnings are flying across the Panhandle and West Texas. Humidity drops to 8 percent in spots. That's bone dry. One spark and you've got a wildfire sprinting across open range. No outdoor burning today. None. Step outside right now and you're feeling the 40s statewide. Crisp. Quiet. Enjoy that calm, because by noon, southerly winds crank to 25 miles an hour with gusts near 35. North Texas, you've got a Wind Advisory until 6 P.M. Gusts could hit 40. Tie down anything that isn't bolted to the ground. Now let's talk temperatures, because this is where it gets wild. Down in South Texas, you're hitting 80 degrees by 4 P.M. Today. The Gulf Coast reaches 71 by 3 P.M. In Galveston. North Texas tops out around 72 by 5 P.M. Central Texas splits the difference at 75. All above normal. All just the appetizer. Wednesday is the main course. Laredo and Del Rio push into the low 90s. That's 40 degrees above normal. Central Texas climbs to 87. North Texas hits 83 before a cold front rolls through Thursday, knocking you back to the upper 70s. South Texas? Stays scorching through the weekend, upper 80s minimum. Quick beach note. Dangerous rip currents along the Gulf Coast through Wednesday. Swim near a lifeguard. If you get caught, swim parallel to shore. Looking ahead, the pattern is stubborn. Wednesday and Thursday bring peak heat. A weak front cools North Texas briefly Friday into the weekend, but we're talking 80s statewide by Saturday. Dry, sunny, still feeling like early summer. Fire danger lingers west of I-35. Charge your phone, hydrate like it's July. And keep your eyes on any smoke. That's your forecast — we'll be back tomorrow. Take care!