Hurricane-force winds blast Texas, Oklahoma as fast-spreading wildfires prompt evacuations
A dangerous combination of hurricane-force winds, dry land and cratering humidity levels are bringing sweeping dust storms and an “extremely critical” fire threat to millions across wide swaths of Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma on Friday.Some towns have been evacuated due to nearby fires, while multiple roads are closed around the region – some due to near-zero visibility triggered by sprawling dust storms; others due to smoke and flames from fast-moving wildfires. It’s a slice of the effects of a powerful and sprawling storm expected to bring a variety of impactful weather stretching over dozens of states in the Midwest and East Coast as an intense 100-plus-mph jet stream moves into the southern Plains on Friday, according to the FOX Forecast Center.Already some fires have sprouted in Oklahoma and Texas amid winds gusting over 70-85 mph.Evacuations are underway in the town of Alanreed, Texas, due to a wildfire, according to Texas A&M Forest Service.Both directions of Interstate 40 at Alanreed are closed due to both the wildfire and several traffic crashes.Winds have been blistering across the region, with gusts in western Texas reaching 87 mph in Pine Springs, 83 mph in Amarillo and 81 mph in Lubbock.
The fierce winds are creating another round of dust storms sweeping across the region. “AVOID MOST TRAVEL AT THIS TIME!” the National Weather Service office in Midland, Texas posted on X.“Many roads across Southeast New Mexico and the Permian Basin have areas of near-zero visibility, and several vehicle accidents have been reported across the region.”The Texas Dept.
of Public Safety also reported there have been multiple crashes across the state.Meanwhile, it hasn’t been any better in Oklahoma, which is also dealing with raging wildfires and near hurricane-force wind gusts.Firefighters ordered the evacuation of the town of Leedey, and multiple shelters have opened in nearby cities. Multiple other fires have started near Norma...