The Daily Weather Update from FOX Weather: Historic wildfire rages on in Texas
Start your day with the latest weather news – Wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma have scorched more than 1 million acres. Plus, California's Sierra Nevada mountains will begin to see snow on Thursday in what could amount to nearly 12 feet by the time the system moves out this weekend.
Weather in America: February 29, 2024
FOX Weather has you covered with the breaking forecasts and weather news headlines for your Weather in America on Thursday, February 29, 2024. Get the latest from FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin.
Welcome to the Daily Weather Update from FOX Weather. It’s Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, and it's Leap Day! Start your day with everything you need to know about today's weather. You can also get a quick briefing of national, regional and local weather whenever you like with the FOX Weather Update podcast.
Deadly wildfires rage in Texas, Oklahoma
Historic wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma have torched more than 1 million acres, but some snow and less windy conditions could help provide firefighters with a bit of help on Thursday.
While snow accumulations won't amount to much more than an inch, the wind will die down, forecast to be around 10-15 mph throughout the day. This could provide some relief, but stronger winds and warmer temperatures are expected to return on Friday.
As of the last report, the Smokehouse Creek Fire, located in the Texas Panhandle, is the second-largest wildfire in the state's history, burning more than 850,000 acres with only 3% containment and prompting evacuations in its path. Hutchinson County officials said one person was killed and dozens of structures were damaged after flames erupted Monday.
![Greenville Fire-Rescue said it had deployed teams in Canadian and Wheeler in the Panhandle, and were]()
Image 1 of 7Greenville Fire-Rescue said it had deployed teams in Canadian and Wheeler in the Panhandle, and were "proud to have the capabilities and training to help other communities in their time of need." (Greenville Fire-Rescue)
![Greenville Fire-Rescue said it had deployed teams in Canadian and Wheeler in the Panhandle, and were]()
Image 2 of 7Greenville Fire-Rescue said it had deployed teams in Canadian and Wheeler in the Panhandle, and were "proud to have the capabilities and training to help other communities in their time of need." (Greenville Fire-Rescue)
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Image 3 of 7Before and after satellite photos of Fritch followed by a closeup of a neighborhood before and after images. (Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies)
![The Smokehouse Creek Fire burns in Hutchinson County, Texas on February 27, 2024. The 200,000-acre firing is burning out of control.]()
Image 4 of 7The Smokehouse Creek Fire burns in Hutchinson County, Texas on February 27, 2024. The 200,000-acre firing is burning out of control. (Image: Texas A&M Forest Service) ( )
![Smoke fills the sky near Canadian, Texas. Feb. 27, 2024.]()
Image 5 of 7Smoke fills the sky near Canadian, Texas. Feb. 27, 2024. ( Chad Casey via Storyful)
![Photos show smoke from the Smokehouse Creek Fire burning in the Texas Panhandle on February 27, 2024.]()
Image 6 of 7Photos show smoke from the Smokehouse Creek Fire burning in the Texas Panhandle on February 27, 2024. (Photo: Flower Mound Fire Department) ( )
![Photos show smoke from the Smokehouse Creek Fire burning in the Texas Panhandle on February 27, 2024.]()
Image 7 of 7Photos show smoke from the Smokehouse Creek Fire burning in the Texas Panhandle on February 27, 2024. (Photo: Flower Mound Fire Department) ( )
California mountains prepare for up to 12 feet of snow
A crippling snowstorm begins Thursday in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, with up to 12 feet of snow possible at some of the highest peaks by the time the system moves out.
And while the snowfall totals may be threatening, winds of more than 100 mph are expected in some locations, leading to intense blizzard conditions.
(FOX Weather)
One small step for … Moon landers
Intuitive Machine’s Nova-C Moon lander Odysseus will go to sleep after operating on the lunar surface nearly a week after the private company returned the U.S. to the Moon for the first time since 1972. A photo taken on Tuesday showed Odysseus on the surface of the Moon.
This image taken on February 27, 2024 when flight controllers commanded Odysseus to capture a new image using its narrow-field-of-view camera. (Image: Intuitive Machines)
(Intuitive Machines)
Japan’s official space agency made a surprise announcement Tuesday that its moon lander survived a lunar night and is again communicating with operators. The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon mission, or SLIM for short, landed upside down on the Moon on Jan. 19 and, within a few weeks, entered a period without sunshine, where temperatures dropped to more than -200 degrees.
See what's new in the journey to reach the Moon
What's next for exploration of Earth's only natural satellite.
Before you go
Here are a few other stories we think might interest you.
- From tornadoes to blizzards: Wild weather that happened on a Leap Day
- Texas man's home standing after neighborhood torched by wildfire: 'It's all on fire back there, all around us'
- Total solar eclipse could help NASA mission discover 5,000th sun-grazing comet
- Watch: Fort Worth firefighters drive through flames to join battle against Texas wildfire
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