Flower Mound faces an elevated fire threat as dry, breezy conditions persist west of I-35, the National Weather Service Fort Worth warned on X.

The agency's Tuesday, Sept. 15, warning cited above-average temperatures, dry conditions and breezy south winds. Flower Mound's location west of I-35 places it squarely in the threat zone. The NWS repeated the warning Wednesday, Sept. 16, saying dry and at times breezy conditions west of I-35 would again produce an elevated fire threat that afternoon.

East of the interstate, a Heat Advisory remained in effect for heat index values that could exceed 105 degrees, the agency said Sept. 16.

The NWS said areas west of I-35 missed the bulk of rainfall the previous week, contributing to the elevated fire threat. The agency urged residents to avoid any activities that could start new fires.

The warnings land during a historic dry stretch. NWS Fort Worth reported Sept. 14 that DFW Airport had gone 61 consecutive days without measurable rain, ranking as the third-longest streak on record. As of Sept. 7, the airport had also logged 43 days at or above 100°F for the year, tying 2006 for tenth on the all-time list, according to community news site Flomobee.

The drought has escalated. Fort Worth was classified as being in severe drought as of early September, up from the moderate drought designation reported in late August, according to the NOAA drought monitor as reported by KERA News. NWS Fort Worth warned Sunday, Sept. 13, that with a hot, dry forecast ahead, drought conditions were expected to intensify across North Texas.

Denton County's mandatory burn ban, signed by County Judge Andy Eads on Aug. 25, remains in effect with no fixed end date. The county's disaster declaration prohibits all outdoor burning and restricts outdoor hot work such as welding and cutting-torch operations. Violating the ban is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500.

When the burn ban took effect, Denton County Chief Fire Marshal Brad Sebastian urged residents to clear combustible debris and vegetation from around their homes and keep water hoses ready. "Over the past several weeks we have had an increase in the occurrence of grass fires," Sebastian told the Cross Timbers Gazette on Aug. 25. "If these weather conditions continue the chance of grass fires will further increase."

Those conditions have continued. Residents can report fires by calling 911.