An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect right now across multiple Texas counties, covering Donley, Palo Duro Canyon, Briscoe, Dickens, Montague, Fisher, and Llano. The warning was issued on August 23, 2026, at 1:18 PM CDT and runs through August 23, 2026, at 8:00 PM CDT. The alert was coordinated across five National Weather Service offices: NWS Amarillo TX, NWS Lubbock TX, NWS Fort Worth TX, NWS San Angelo TX, and NWS Austin/San Antonio TX, reflecting how broadly dangerous conditions have become across the region during these afternoon and early evening hours.
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If you are in any of the affected counties, this warning covers the hottest and most dangerous window of the day. The hours between early afternoon and 8:00 PM CDT represent peak heat exposure risk, and conditions in these areas have met the federal threshold that triggers an Extreme Heat Warning, not merely a watch or advisory.
What NWS Is Telling Residents to Do Right Now
The National Weather Service, through NWS Amarillo TX, has issued direct, actionable guidance for anyone in the affected areas during this warning window. Follow these steps closely:
Drink plenty of fluids. Do not wait until you feel thirsty. Consistent hydration before and during any heat exposure is critical. If you are indoors or outdoors, keep water accessible and drink regularly throughout the afternoon.
Stay in an air-conditioned room. If your home does not have working air conditioning, now is the time to go to a public cooling center, library, or any air-conditioned building. The NWS instruction is specific: stay in an air-conditioned room, not simply indoors. A hot enclosed space without cooling can be as dangerous as being outside.
Stay out of the sun. Direct sun exposure accelerates heat illness dramatically. Keep curtains or blinds closed if you are indoors and avoid stepping outside during the peak warning period unless necessary.
Check on relatives and neighbors. This step is included by name in the official NWS guidance and it matters. Elderly residents, young children, people with chronic illness, and those without reliable cooling are at highest risk. A phone call or a knock on the door can save a life during an Extreme Heat Warning.
If you must go outside, wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing. The NWS specifically advises limiting strenuous physical activity to early morning or evening hours, well outside the 1:18 PM to 8:00 PM CDT danger window currently in effect.
Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion symptoms include heavy sweating, weakness, cold or pale skin, a weak pulse, nausea, and fainting. Heat stroke is a medical emergency: the body stops sweating, skin becomes hot and red, and confusion or loss of consciousness can follow. The NWS guidance is clear: take action when you see these symptoms. Call 911 immediately for heat stroke.
Why Heat Warnings Deserve the Same Preparation as Any Other Disaster
Extreme heat is consistently one of the deadliest weather hazards in the United States, and warnings like this one across Donley, Briscoe, Dickens, and the surrounding counties are a direct reminder that preparedness is not only for hurricanes or wildfires. At USRiskRadar, we track the full spectrum of hazards that affect American households, including the sustained fire danger that has driven 35 of the last 60 federal disaster declarations in states like Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Utah. Heat and fire share a common thread: both exploit the same dry, high-temperature conditions, and both punish households that have not made a plan before conditions peak. The single best time to identify your nearest cooling center, confirm your air conditioning is working, and establish a check-in routine with vulnerable neighbors is before an Extreme Heat Warning is already in effect. For the communities under this Texas warning on August 23, 2026, that preparation window is now. Follow NWS guidance, stay cool, stay hydrated, and stay informed.
For the fundamentals that apply beyond this specific alert, see our Extreme Heat Preparedness guide.
Source: National Weather Service (NWS Amarillo TX, NWS Lubbock TX, NWS Fort Worth TX, NWS San Angelo TX, NWS Austin/San Antonio TX). Active alert data retrieved 2026-08-23 22:00 UTC via api.weather.gov.
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