There is a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico moving south of Louisiana towards Texas and it’s resulted in a Red Flag Warning, which means wildfires and grass fires can spread quickly. National Weather Service Lake Charles Meteorologist Stacey Denson.
“It’s the combination of the fact that we’ve been so dry and then these gusty winds coming off that disturbance in the Gulf that’s going to exasperate the already dry conditions out there.”
According to the governor’s office, there have been more than 260 wildfires during this hot and dry summer that have damaged and destroyed more than 3,500 acres. Denson says the breezy conditions driven by tropical depression heading towards Texas…
“We’re expecting pretty much gusts around 20 to 25 knots through the afternoon across most of southern Louisiana.”
Warm temperatures and dry wind are the perfect mixture for activity to develop over warm waters and there are three named storms Emily, Franklin, and Gert in the Atlantic Ocean. Denson says there’s low pressure moving across the Gulf but that’s given a 70% chance of development.
“We have quite a few tropical storms out there and then there’s that little disturbance in the Gulf but none of that is going to affect us here in Louisiana.”
The state burn ban remains in effect due to dry and hot conditions.
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