206
FNUS22 KWNS 310720
FWDDY2
DAY 2 FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0219 AM CDT FRI JUL 31 2026
VALID 011200Z - 021200Z
...EXTREMELY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PORTIONS OF THE COLUMBIA
BASIN IN CENTRAL/SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON...
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR EASTERN OREGON AND FAR WESTERN
IDAHO INTO EASTERN WASHINGTON...THE IDAHO PANHANDLE...AND
NORTHWESTERN/NORTH-CENTRAL MONTANA...
..SYNOPSIS
UPPER-LEVEL RIDGING WILL REMAIN IN PLACE FROM THE DESERT SOUTHWEST
INTO THE NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS ON D2/SATURDAY AS A POTENT UPPER-LEVEL
TROUGH MOVES ONSHORE ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND BRITISH
COLUMBIA. AS THIS OCCURS, A SURFACE LOW WILL AMPLIFY ACROSS SOUTHERN
ALBERTA, WITH A DRY COLD FRONT PROGRESSING RAPIDLY
EAST-SOUTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND NORTHERN
ROCKIES.
A TIGHTENING SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT UNDERLYING A 35-45 KT 700 MB
JET WILL PROMOTE SUSTAINED STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY TO WESTERLY SURFACE
WINDS AMID A VERY DRY BOUNDARY LAYER. THE BEST OVERLAP OF THESE
CONDITIONS IS FORECAST ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE COLUMBIA BASIN IN
CENTRAL AND EASTERN WASHINGTON WHERE DRY, DOWNSLOPE FLOW IN THE LEE
OF THE CASCADES IS EXPECTED TO PROMOTE RH REDUCTIONS TO 15-20% IN
CONJUNCTION WITH SUSTAINED SURFACE WINDS OF 20-30 MPH (LOCALLY
HIGHER IN FAVORED TERRAIN/GAP FLOW AREAS) AND GUSTS OF 35-45+ MPH. A
FEW LARGE WILDFIRES ARE ALREADY ONGOING ACROSS THIS REGION, AND ERCS
ARE NOTED TO BE APPROACHING OR EXCEEDING THE 95TH PERCENTILE. THIS
COMBINATION OF METEOROLOGICAL AND FUEL CONDITIONS SUPPORTS AN
UPGRADE TO EXTREMELY CRITICAL WITH THIS OUTLOOK ISSUANCE.
WHILE THE BEST OVERLAP OF THE TIGHTENING SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT
AND STRENGTHENING MID-LEVEL WINDS IS FORECAST ACROSS EASTERN
WASHINGTON, A BROADER AREA OF CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS IS
ALSO EXPECTED FROM EASTERN OREGON AND FAR WESTERN IDAHO INTO EASTERN
WASHINGTON, THE IDAHO PANHANDLE, AND NORTHWESTERN/NORTH-CENTRAL
MONTANA. ACROSS THIS REGION, SUSTAINED SURFACE WINDS OF 20-25 MPH
ARE FORECAST TO OVERLAP VERY LOW RH OF 5-20% (WITH THE LOWEST RH
VALUES FORECAST ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN OREGON AND IN THE LEE OF THE
ROCKIES IN NORTH-CENTRAL MONTANA) AND ERCS COMMONLY ABOVE THE 90TH
TO 98TH PERCENTILES. RECENT GUIDANCE ALSO SUGGESTS THAT A SEPARATE
AREA OF STRONGER, PRE-FRONTAL SOUTHWESTERLY SURFACE WINDS (UP TO 20
MPH) MAY MANIFEST ACROSS PORTIONS OF EASTERN IDAHO SATURDAY
AFTERNOON, WHICH MAY SUPPORT LOCALLY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS.
SUSTAINED WESTERLY/SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS OF 15-20 MPH, VERY LOW RH OF
5-20%, AND ERCS RANGING FROM THE 80TH TO 98TH PERCENTILES WILL ALSO
FOSTER ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS ACROSS A LARGER AREA
ENCOMPASSING MUCH OF THE NORTHERN GREAT BASIN, EASTERN PACIFIC
NORTHWEST, NORTHERN ROCKIES, AND PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN HIGH
PLAINS.
..CHALMERS.. 07/31/2026
..PLEASE SEE WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV/FIRE FOR GRAPHIC PRODUCT
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