Syrian president sacks governor of central city (AP)

BEIRUT – Syrian President Bashar Assad has sacked the governor of a key central city in the latest attempt to appease an uprising against his authoritarian rule.

State-run SANA news agency announced on Saturday that Assad has fired the governor of Hama. The statement gave no details or reason for the sacking.

Hama has seen one of the deadliest government crackdowns during more than three months of protests against the Assad family's 40-year dynasty.

The president has offered vague promises of reform while unleashing his army and security services the crush the protests. The growing death toll has fueled the uprising.

Activists say the regime has killed more than 1,400 people — mostly unarmed protesters — since mid-March, but the government disputes that toll.

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Wildfires burn in south, central and west Texas

The remains of a home near Strawn, Texas,. Authorities have responded to 7,807 fires since wildfire season began.10 major fires are burning on more than half a million acres212 of the state's 254 counties are reporting burn bans, officials sayLow humidity and gusty winds are expected to create critical fire weather conditions75 homes are evacuated south of San Angelo, official says

(CNN) -- Strong winds whipped up wildfires in central, south and west Texas Friday, complicating efforts to bring various blazes there under control.

Texas Forest Service spokesman Bruce Palmer said the group's crews are battling at least 10 major fires, which have so far scorched more than half a million acres.

Winds were starting to pick up, he said, adding that about two-thirds of Texas is under a "red flag" warning, meaning that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will occur shortly.

The National Weather Service issued red-flag warnings for much of central, south and west Texas, citing strong winds and relatively low humidity. It said gusts of up to 60 mph were possible in some places.

"It's just going to make things a lot more difficult," said Palmer. "It's extremely dangerous conditions."

The largest of those 10 fires is the so-called Rockhouse fire in west Texas. It has so far burned nearly 300,000 acres and is about 66 percent contained, according to forest service officials.

They said 212 of the state's 254 counties are reporting burn bans.

South of San Angelo, in central Texas, authorities have ordered the evacuation of 75 homes, according to Lt. Christina Lopez with the Tom Green County Sheriff's office. The city is not in danger and the evacuation order was precautionary, she said.

Authorities have responded to 7,807 fires across more than 1.5 million acres since this year's wildfire season began in late December, Gov. Rick Perry wrote earlier this month in a letter to President Barack Obama. Perry requested that the federal government declare Texas a disaster area. Fires have affected all but two of the state's 254 counties.

Perry laments lack of federal aid for wildfires

CNN

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Tornado watches issued in central Plains

Violent tornadoes possible ThursdaySTORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: Tornado watches are in place in Kansas, Oklahoma and TexasA powerful storm system is forming in the central Plains regionThunderstorms and violent tornadoes are possible in the central Plains Severe weather will move across the Deep South on Friday and into SaturdayIf severe weather happens near you, we want to hear your story. Share your photos and videos with CNN iReport, but please be careful.

(CNN) -- Tornado watches were issued Thursday afternoon for portions of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas and surrounding areas as severe thunderstorms intensified and forecasters predicted tornadoes, damaging wind and hail.

The National Weather Service issued the watches, which indicate conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.

Western Arkansas, southeast Kansas, extreme southwest Missouri, eastern Oklahoma and extreme northeast Texas are considered the most vulnerable regions.

This system will set the stage for severe weather over the next few days, according to CNN meteorologist Sean Morris. Large, damaging hail up to the size of softballs also will be possible with these storms.

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Weekend forecast: Stormy in central USA; South will bake

By Evan Vucci, AP

A rainy view of the U.S. Capitol down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington on Friday. More dreary weather is forecast for Saturday in the Nation's Capital.

EnlargeCloseBy Evan Vucci, AP

A rainy view of the U.S. Capitol down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington on Friday. More dreary weather is forecast for Saturday in the Nation's Capital.

Wild weekend: Severe storms, with large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes, are possible Saturday in parts of the central Plains and upper Midwest. The more serious threat for severe weather is Sunday, again in those areas but also including the southern Plains and Mississippi Valley.

Extreme heat: Blistering heat will be the rule from the central Plains into the Southeast this weekend, as temperatures should soar into the upper 80s to low 90s throughout the region. High temperatures at the Masters in Augusta, Ga., should be around 90 degrees both days.

Fire threat: Gusty winds, extreme heat, low humidity and an ongoing drought will combine to create dangerous wildfire conditions across the southern Plains both Saturday and Sunday. Areas where the wildfire threat is high include western portions of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Wintry West: Winter continues to hang on in the mountains of the West. Snow is likely both days in the highest elevations of the central and southern Rockies. Showers are forecast Sunday in the Northwest.

Flood fears: Melting snow will exacerbate river flooding in the northern Plains. The greatest threats are expected along the Red River of the North between North Dakota and Minnesota and along the Mississippi River in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois.

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Severe weather hits central Florida

Tornado touches down in FloridaSTORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: 25 homes in Hillsborough County were damaged by the stormThunderstorm and tornado warnings are in effect until 8 p.m. ETReports that an airport building collapsed, trapping 70 people, are false, police sayFlorida's emergency management office says it has deployed personnel to the airportCheck out CNN affiliates Bay News 9 and WFLA-TV in the Tampa area for the latest developments.

(CNN) -- Severe weather tore across central Florida on Thursday, causing damage and spawning an apparent tornado in Tampa, the National Weather Service said.

A heavy storm with strong winds hit the Sun 'n Fun aviation fair at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, causing "extensive minor damage and reports of minor injuries," but "all persons so far have been accounted for," said Sgt. Terri Smith of the Lakeland Police Department.

The National Weather Service had reported a building collapse that trapped 70 people at the airport, but that report was false, Smith said.

The Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In & Expo is a six-day aviation-themed festival that provides the primary source of funding for Sun 'n Fun, a nonprofit organization, and its wholly owned subsidiary, the Florida Air Museum.

Greg Lane, a Sun 'n Fun volunteer who is working with a low-power AM radio station at the airport, said the "sky went from gray to black to bluish green" as the storm rolled in.

"You couldn't see the tents that were 50 feet across the drive from us," he said.

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