320
FNUS22 KWNS 181937
FWDDY2
DAY 2 FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0136 PM CST THU DEC 18 2025
VALID 191200Z - 201200Z
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR ALONG THE COLORADO FRONT RANGE
INTO SOUTHEAST WYOMING...
A CRITICAL AREA WAS ADDED ALONG AND JUST EAST OF THE FRONT RANGE IN
COLORADO FROM WEST OF COLORADO SPRINGS EXTENDING NORTH INTO
SOUTHEAST WYOMING. GIVEN THE STRONG WESTERLY, DOWNSLOPE WINDS
(SUSTAINED 15-30 MPH AND GUSTS OF 50-80 MPH) AND RH BELOW 15-20%,
AND THIS BEING THE THIRD DAY IN THE PAST WEEK WITH SIMILAR
CONDITIONS, THE CRITICAL AREA WAS ADDED. LOCALLY CRITICAL CONDITIONS
ARE LIKELY TO EXTEND FARTHER SOUTH ALONG THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE
COLORADO ROCKIES AND INTO PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST COLORADO.
THE ELEVATED AREA WAS EXPANDED ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WITH A MIX
OF DRY DOWNSLOPE AND RETURN FLOW EXPECTED ACROSS THE REGION. LOCALLY
CRITICAL CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY TO DEVELOP, BUT GUIDANCE IS
INCONSISTENT ON THE LOCATION AND MAGNITUDE OF THESE CONDITIONS. IF
FORECAST GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO TREND DRIER WITH STRONGER WINDS, A
CRITICAL AREA MAY BE NECESSARY ACROSS PORTIONS OF EASTERN NEW
MEXICO, WEST TEXAS, AND INTO WESTERN OKLAHOMA.
..NAUSLAR.. 12/18/2025
PREV DISCUSSION
/ISSUED 1137 PM CST WED DEC 17 2025/
..SYNOPSIS
SHORTWAVE RIDGING ALOFT WILL BREAK DOWN THROUGH THE DAY FRIDAY AND
ANOTHER STRONG MID-LEVEL JET WILL MOVE ACROSS THE ROCKIES. IN THE
PLAINS, A BROAD AND MODERATELY DEEP SURFACE TROUGH WILL DEVELOP AND
SHIFT EASTWARD. THESE FEATURES WILL COMBINE TO PROMOTE ANOTHER
STRONG DOWNSLOPE WIND REGIME IN THE IMMEDIATE LEE OF THE ROCKIES.
..CENTRAL/SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS
STRONG DOWNSLOPE WINDS WILL OCCUR IN THE I-25 CORRIDOR AGAIN ON
FRIDAY. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20-30 MPH, ESPECIALLY IN WYOMING AND
COLORADO, ARE EXPECTED. WIND GUSTS OF GREATER THAN 60 MPH COULD
OCCUR IN THE TYPICALLY WIND-PRONE GAPS/FOOTHILLS. WINDS IN NEW
MEXICO WILL GENERALLY BE 15-20 MPH. AS WITH THE LAST DOWNSLOPE WIND
EVENT, RH WILL BE UNCERTAIN DURING THE AFTERNOON. HIGHER CONFIDENCE
IN 15-20% EXISTS IN NEW MEXICO. WITH NORTHWARD EXTENT, RH WILL
GENERALLY BE HIGHER, THOUGH POCKETS OF 15-20% ARE AT LEAST POSSIBLE.
CLOUD COVER NEAR THE TERRAIN IS PARTLY DRIVING THIS UNCERTAINTY.
GIVEN THE STRENGTH OF WINDS AND CONTINUED DRYING OF FUELS, ELEVATED
TO LOCALLY CRITICAL CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED.
..SOUTHERN PLAINS
WINDS OF 15-20 MPH WILL DEVELOP BY THE AFTERNOON AS THE SURFACE
TROUGH DEEPENS. DRY RETURN FLOW SHOULD FOSTER 15-25% RH. ENHANCED
WINDS WITHIN THE LOWEST 2-3 KM SHOULD ALSO FOSTER STRONGER WIND
GUSTS, PARTICULARLY DURING THE AFTERNOON/PEAK HEATING.
..PLEASE SEE WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV/FIRE FOR GRAPHIC PRODUCT
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
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