Another HOT Wichita Falls Red Flag Warning Day In Texas

If today's third Tuesday of the third month of 2025 temperature, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, reaches its currently predicted high, today will be the HOTTEST day so far this year.

Which likely means today will be the first time in 2025 that I will activate my interior space's air-conditioning mechanism. 

It has already been HOT enough that I have utilized my motorized means of motion's air-conditioning mechanism.

That and my interior space has already become HOT enough this year to the point where I have activated my computer room's ceiling fan for a brief period of spinning.

I was hoping that this year, by the time of year when it gets way too HOT, that I would have reduced my insulative layer of adipose tissue to a degree which rendered me feeling cooler. 

That and being able to fit into a pair of Levi corduroy jeans which have vexed me for way too long.

Along with today's HEAT, we are also under a RED FLAG WARNING, which is a warning which warns that strong winds may spawn wildfires and dust storms.

Wildfires and dust storms have wreaked a lot of havoc in Texas and Oklahoma in recent days...

Windy Sikes Lake With Flock Of Goslings

It was to Sikes Lake I ventured this morning, on this final day of the 2023 version of March, to do some nature communing which required leaning into a strong wind.

The wind was blowing from the west. I would have thought, due to feeling how hard the wind was blowing, that the waves on the lake would have been bigger, with whitecaps.

You know for sure Spring has sprung when you see what I saw today at Sikes Lake.

A flock of newborn goslings. I saw no goose parental units by the flock. Usually, mom and dad goose are overly protective of their newborns and don't let visitors get too close.

And now a screen cap of part of today's forecast for my location.

I think I got hit with one of those 55 mph gusts. I had to lean into the gust to keep moving.

The high wind and dry conditions have caused the issuing of a Red Flag Warning. I do not know why it is called a Red Flag Warning, but what it means is conditions are such that the wildfire danger is extreme.

So far all I see is a smoke-free crystal clear bright blue sky...

Holy Smokes From Nephew Jason In The Skagit Valley

Incoming smoky email from my Favorite Nephew Jason. No text. Just three smoky photos, and an email subject line of "Holy Smokes".

That is the I-5 bridge across the Skagit River you see above. It does not look too smoky.

Another look at the Skagit River, and the bridge across the river connecting Burlington and Mount Vernon. This view is looking east. Under normal clear sky conditions you would be seeing the foothills of the Cascades.

I just realized, from this view, with no smoke, you would also see Hoag Hill, which is in Mount Vernon, a short distance from the bridge.

I can not tell where we are in the above photo, but with the smoky sun in about the same location as the previous photo I assume we are the same location. But, where did the bridge go?

Today we are having a red flag warning day at my current Texas location.

A red flag warning is a wildfire danger warning. High winds today, along with dry conditions and temperatures into the 90s, are what makes for a red flag warning.

It Was Not A Red Flag Warning From Elsie Hotpepper Which Woke Me Up In The Middle Of The Night

In the middle of the night, last night, as in around 3am, I was awakened from a sound sleep by my phone making one of its incoming message noises.

I figured this can't be good, what's happened that someone is messaging me in the middle of the night? Something about my mom and dad? My nephews? Miss Puerto Rico lock herself out of her apartment? Elsie Hotpepper run out of gas again?

I stumbled around in the dark and eventually located the phone, then woke it up to learn what woke me up was a Weather Alert from AccuWeather letting me know the National Weather Service had issued a RED FLAG WARNING for Fort Worth and surrounding areas.

Why did I need to know this in the middle of the night?

RED FLAG WARNING? In my groggy state of mind I did not remember what a RED FLAG WARNING is about.

This morning, when no longer groggy, I still could not remember what a RED FLAG WARNING is about.

So, I Googled and then read the Wikipedia RED FLAG WARNING article, well, actually, I only read the first paragraph, which I copy in its entirety below, for the education of those of you who live in an area of the planet which does not have RED FLAG WARNINGS in the middle of the night.....

A Red Flag Warning also known as a Fire Weather Warning is a forecast warning issued by the United States National Weather Service to inform area firefighting and land management agencies that conditions are ideal for wildland fire ignition, and rapid propagation. After drought conditions, and when humidity is very low, and especially when high or erratic winds which may include lightning are a factor, the Red Flag Warning becomes a critical statement for firefighting agencies. These agencies often alter their staffing and equipment resources dramatically to accommodate the forecast risk. To the public, a Red Flag Warning means high fire danger with increased probability of a quickly spreading vegetation fire in the area within 24 hours.

I shall take the RED FLAG WARNING under advisement, but not let it deter me from having myself a mighty fine time rolling my wheels at Gateway Park, later today....

65 Degrees With A Red Flag Warning On The First Thursday Of April In North Texas

As you can clearly see, looking out one of my viewing portals on the world, this first Thursday of April, it is a relatively balmy 65 degrees outside.

And, for some reason, the outdoor world seems to be glowing with a greenish tint.

Currently in North Texas we are under what the National Weather Service calls a Red Flag Warning. This means wildfires are easily started due to the dry conditions.

So far no wildfires have erupted near enough to me that I have smelled that distinctly acrid odor.

I have no idea what lays ahead for me today. Except for the fact that I am going swimming at this point in time.

Talk to you later.

Red Flag Warning: Don't Get Sick In Texas

Apparently if I don't blog at my usual pace, the lack causes concern. As in I got an email from my one reader asking me if I'm all right, due to me not blogging this morning.

Well. I may not look as ill as the guy in the drawing, but that's pretty much how I felt this morning. By yesterday afternoon I sort of had an inkling I might have a virus inside me wanting to get out. I'd been around an extremely germy person a few days prior.

So, late yesterday afternoon I went to Wal-Mart and got a chicken and all the stuff to make Chicken Tortilla Soup. Tortilla Soup always makes me feel better. So, this morning I made the soup and several bowls later I'm feeling way better.

Due to this under the weather problem I have unintentionally followed my physical therapist, Dr. Layla's, "slow down" advice. As in, even though it was quite warm this morning and I'm sure the pool was way warmer than yesterday, I did not go swimming. Today has seen no bike riding or hiking.

But I did make my weekly trek to Sprouts Farmers Market to stock up on good stuff.

Due to these high (in the 80s) temperatures, along with low humidity and wind, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning, due to high wildfire danger.

Here's the warning....

Urgent - Fire Weather Message National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 253 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2009

A Red Flag Warning Is In Effect Thursday Afternoon For The Northwest Two Thirds Of North Texas Due To Gusty Southwest Winds, Very Low Humidities, And Very Warm Temperatures.

A Deep Surface Low Pressure System Will Move East Across Oklahoma On Thursday And Result In The Passage Of A Dryline Across North Texas During The Afternoon. Very Warm, Windy, And Dry Conditions Will Occur Behind The Dryline Resulting In Critical Fire Conditions Through Sunset Thursday Evening.