WEATHER: (February 18, 2026) WEDNESDAY – High yesterday was 77° at 2:30; this morning’s low was 35° at 6:00. KPANcast: Windy and dry. High near 68°. RED FLAG WARNING.
LOCAL: The Hereford Mesonet site recorded a 65 mph gust yesterday afternoon at approximately 3:00, which was the peak gust in Hereford. Peak gusts at area mesonet sites included 73 mph at Vega; 69 mph at Adrian; 64 mph at Dimmitt; 63 mph at The Tree near Bootleg; 61 mph at Endee; and 60 mph at Friona……Several wildland fires began yesterday and the Ranger Road Fire in Beaver County, Oklahoma, had burned 145,000 acres according to the latest update from the Oklahoma Forestry Service. The Lavender Fire in Oldham and Potter counties began in Oldham County yesterday and had burned 8,500 acres with just 10% containment per latest updates. The 8-Ball Fire in Armstrong County has burned 9,000 acres with 25% containment per Texas A&M Forest Service updates……Today will feature critical-extreme fire weather conditions with single digit humidity values and winds gusting into the 40s in the Hereford area. Stronger winds will favor the northwestern Panhandle today……The Herd dropped the season finale to Canyon last night in boys basketball, 44-74. Brix Machen led the Herd with 17 points……The Deaf Smith County Hospital District Board of Directors will meet in a regular session tomorrow afternoon at 5:30. They’ll work through a 10-item agenda in the meeting including a discussion regarding ER policies and a tabbed executive session. The meeting is at the HRMC Board Room……KPAN salutes Rodney Ferguson as the Good Neighbor of the Day……A team as committed to your goals as you are – Kevin Knight Edward Jones.