A strong storm driving gusty winds and dry air across a parched landscape was fueling dangerous fire conditions across a wide swath of the country, from eastern New Mexico and Colorado to parts of the Midwest. Forecasters warned that more outbreaks appeared likely going into the weekend.

Much of Texas is under an increased fire threat tonight, with the state preparing to manage extremely critical wildfire conditions. According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, nearly a dozen active wildfires were burning across the state as of Tuesday night.