Fire weather watch issued for southeast Texas and parts of Louisiana on Saturday

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles, Louisiana, has issued a Fire Weather Watch for portions of southeast Texas and central and southwest Louisiana, in effect from Saturday morning through Saturday evening. Dallas is not among the areas listed in the watch.

The watch covers Allen, Evangeline, St. Landry, Lafayette, Upper St. Martin, Northern Calcasieu, Northern Jefferson Davis, Northern Acadia, Hardin, Southern Jasper and Southern Newton. It was issued October 15 at 12:07 p.m. CDT and runs until October 17 at 9 p.m. CDT.

Forecasters said breezy and dry conditions from a passing front, combined with very dry vegetation, will produce red flag conditions across parts of central and southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas through Friday afternoon.

For Saturday, north winds of 10 to 20 mph are forecast, with gusts up to 35 mph. Relative humidity could drop as low as 31 percent, and temperatures could reach 86 degrees.

The weather service said any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly, and outdoor burning is not recommended. A Fire Weather Watch means critical fire weather conditions are forecast, and residents in the affected areas are advised to listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.