While the cold winter air should depart much of Texas this week, a newer, drier concern could impact heavily populated parts of the state. Forecasters with the National Weather Service across both Austin and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex say low humidity and breezier winds may create the perfect cocktail for wildfires to spark and spread starting early in the week.

Temperatures continue to rise this week, with highs reaching the lower 80s Tuesday afternoon, which puts us 10-15° above average.It was a breezy day, and that breeze will stick around for much of this week.

An elevated fire threat continues through Thursday and then Friday increases to a critical fire danger threat. Friday’s winds will gust to near 45 mph - 50 mph as a cold front moves into and through North Texas.