Fire Weather Watches will be issued to indicate the potential for dangerous fire weather conditions 24 to 72 hours in advance of of the expected onset of criteria. A Red Flag Warning is used to warn of an impending, or occurring Red Flag Event. Its issuance denotes a high degree of confidence that weather and fuel conditions consistent with local Red Flag Event criteria will occur in 12 to 24 hours or less. Forecasters can issue the watch or warning for all or selected portions within a fire weather zone. The Red Flag event is verified when the following weather and fuel conditions listed below are met simultaneously for any three (3) hours or more during the period. The warning should remain in effect until the critical fire weather pattern ends.

The following weather and fuel conditions must be forecasted to occur or already occurring before issuing a Fire Weather Watch and/or Red Flag Warning for the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles:

A) Relative humidities equal to or less than 15 percent B) 20 foot winds of 20 mph or higher and/or gusts to 35 mph or higher C) NFDRS adjective fire danger rating of "High" or higher

Fire Weather Watches and Red Flag Warnings may also be issued whenever dry lightning is forecasted to occur or is ongoing based on life and property concerns.