AUSTIN, Texas — Dangerous heat will be a daily occurrence for Central Texans this week. While you are reminding yourself to stay hydrated and cool, you will also need to remember that outdoor burning is off-limits.
As we head into the next few days, southerly wind is expected to pick up as triple-digit heat continues.
Throughout Friday, gusts up to 25 mph are possible in the morning hours but should settle to 20 mph gusts in the afternoon.
Breezy and hot weather will increase the possibility of wildfires sparking.
As of July 14, Mason, Llano, Lee, Hays, Burnet, Blanco, Caldwell and Fayette counties are under burn bans indefinitely. Fines of up to $500 could be issued for burning. Burn ban information is updated daily on the Texas A&M Forest Service website.
The breezy conditions will continue through the weekend. Fire weather concerns could spread into early next week, as the forecast for Monday and Tuesday also includes potential wind gusts around 20 mph.
Virtually no rain chances are included for Central Texas over the next seven days.
Fire danger will be greater for those counties still in "extreme" to "severe" drought categories. With little rainfall expected in the long-term forecast, areas east of Interstate 35 that had been eased of drought from springtime rains will now be at risk for worsening drought likely through the end of July.
