000 WWUS84 KCRP 081823 SPSCRP SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 1223 PM CST FRI FEB 8 2008 TXZ229>234-239>247-090030- LA SALLE-MCMULLEN-LIVE OAK-BEE-GOLIAD-VICTORIA-WEBB-DUVAL- JIM WELLS-KLEBERG-NUECES-SAN PATRICIO-ARANSAS-REFUGIO-CALHOUN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...COTULLA...ENCINAL...TILDEN... GEORGE WEST...THREE RIVERS...BEEVILLE...SKIDMORE...GOLIAD... VICTORIA...LAREDO...RIO BRAVO...FREER...BENAVIDES...SAN DIEGO... ALICE...PREMONT...KINGSVILLE...CORPUS CHRISTI...ROBSTOWN... PORT ARANSAS...PORTLAND...INGLESIDE...ARANSAS PASS...SINTON... MATHIS...ROCKPORT...REFUGIO...WOODSBORO...PORT LAVACA... PORT O'CONNOR...SEADRIFT 1223 PM CST FRI FEB 8 2008 ...ELEVATED FIRE DANGER THREAT THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS... SOUTHERLY WINDS HAVE INCREASED ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. SOUTH WINDS AT 15 TO 25 MPH ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE COASTAL PLAINS AND SOUTH WINDS AT 10 TO 20 MPH ACROSS THE BRUSH COUNTRY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON. WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE COASTAL PLAINS. VERY DRY CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES THIS AFTERNOON WILL DIP INTO THE UPPER TEENS ACROSS THE WESTERN RIO GRANDE PLAINS AND BRUSH COUNTRY...BETWEEN 30 AND 35 PERCENT ACROSS THE INTERIOR COASTAL BEND. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL FALL TO BETWEEN 40 AND 55 PERCENT ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST. VERY DRY CONDITIONS PERSIST ACROSS MOST OF SOUTH TEXAS. GRASSES ARE CURED AND PLENTIFUL RESULTING IN AMPLE FUEL FOR GRASS AND WILDLAND FIRES. AN ELEVATED FIRE DANGER THREAT IS EXPECTED TODAY ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS GIVEN THESE DRY FUELS...IN COMBINATION WITH THE LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND MODERATE SOUTH WINDS THIS AFTERNOON. TEXANS FACE SEVERE DANGER OF WILDFIRE AND SHOULD BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS ABOUT ANY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THAT MIGHT CAUSE SPARKS OR FIRES. SPARKS CAN EASILY ESCAPE FROM BURNING TRASH. AVOID USE OF WELDING OR GRINDING EQUIPMENT NEAR WEEDS AND GRASS. AVOID PARKING VEHICLES IN TALL...DRY GRASS AND WEEDS THAT COULD BE IGNITED BY HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. DO NOT TOSS CIGARETTE BUTTS OUTSIDE. IN SOUTH TEXAS BURN BANS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR LA SALLE...LIVE OAK...JIM WELLS...BEE...REFUGIO...ARANSAS AND NUECES COUNTIES. REPORT WILD FIRES QUICKLY TO THE NEAREST FIRE DEPARTMENT OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE. $$ TMT