849
FNUS22 KWNS 261807
FWDDY2
DAY 2 FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1206 PM CST THU FEB 26 2026
VALID 271200Z - 281200Z
..19Z UPDATE
NO CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. AN OVERLAP OF
NORTHWESTERLY 35-45 MPH SUSTAINED SURFACE WINDS AND RH VALUES OF
10-20% WILL LIKELY EXIST FOR A FEW HOURS ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON FOR
SOUTHEASTERN WY, NORTHEASTERN CO, AND THE WESTERN NE PANHANDLE. WITH
MULTIPLE DAYS OF STRONG, DRY DOWNSLOPE WINDS PRECEDING DAY 2/FRIDAY
ATOP A DROUGHT-RIDDEN LANDSCAPE, FUELS ARE LIKELY TO BE RECEPTIVE TO
FIRE. ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR CENTRAL NM
INTO THE LEE OF THE SANDIA MANZANO MOUNTAINS AS VERY LOW RH VALUES
OF 10-20% AND SUSTAINED WESTERLY WINDS OF 15-20 MPH COALESCE ATOP A
REGION OF POTENTIALLY DRIER FINE FUELS. WHILE BROAD FORECAST ERC
VALUES WITHIN THE RISK AREA ARE BETWEEN THE 50TH-70TH PERCENTILES,
RECENT FIRES IN THE LANDSCAPE AND ANTECEDENT DAYS OF DRY/WINDY
CONDITIONS MAINTAIN FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS.
..ELIZALDE-GARCIA/THORNTON.. 02/26/2026
PREV DISCUSSION
/ISSUED 0150 AM CST THU FEB 26 2026/
..SYNOPSIS
...PORTIONS OF EASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN WYOMING INTO NORTHEASTERN
COLORADO AND THE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE...
ELEVATED TO LOCALLY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
FRIDAY AS STRONG MID-LEVEL FLOW AND A 40-KT NORTHWESTERLY 700 MB JET
WILL SUPPORT STRONG NORTHWESTERLY DOWNSLOPE WINDS IN THE LEE OF THE
LARAMIE RANGE. GUIDANCE IS IN GENERALLY GOOD AGREEMENT REGARDING
20-30 MPH SUSTAINED SURFACE WINDS WITH GUSTS UP TO 35-45 MPH
(LOCALLY HIGHER IN TERRAIN-FAVORED AREAS) OVERLAPPING RH VALUES OF
15-20%. SOME GUIDANCE INDICATES EVEN LOWER RH VALUES OF 10-15%
ACROSS THIS AREA, BUT UNCERTAINTY REGARDING HOW LOW RH VALUES WILL
DROP PRECLUDES THE ADDITION OF A CRITICAL AREA AT THIS TIME.
..PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND EAST-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO
LOWER RH VALUES OF 10-15% ARE EXPECTED TO BE MORE COMMON FROM
NORTHEASTERN COLORADO SOUTHWARD INTO EASTERN NEW MEXICO. WINDS ARE
EXPECTED TO REMAIN GENERALLY LIGHT ACROSS THIS REGION, WITH THE
EXCEPTION BEING ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL INTO EAST-CENTRAL NEW
MEXICO WHERE A BELT OF MODEST NORTHWESTERLY MID-LEVEL FLOW IS
EXPECTED TO SUPPORT DRY, DOWNSLOPE WINDS IN THE LEE OF THE SANDIA
MANZANO MOUNTAINS. ELEVATED HIGHLIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADDED WHERE
SUSTAINED NORTHWESTERLY SURFACE WINDS OF 15-20 MPH (LOCALLY HIGHER)
ARE EXPECTED TO OVERLAP RH VALUES OF 10-20% FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
..PLEASE SEE WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV/FIRE FOR GRAPHIC PRODUCT
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