885
FNUS21 KWNS 271628
FWDDY1
DAY 1 FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1127 AM CDT MON APR 27 2026
VALID 271700Z - 281200Z
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO
INTO WESTERN TEXAS...
SOME SLIGHT EXPANSION OF CRITICAL HIGHLIGHTS WERE MADE ACROSS
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN NM INTO FAR WEST TX, PRIMARILY FOR WIND
PRONE AREAS IN THE LEE OF THE SANDIA MANZANO MOUNTAINS AND GUADALUPE
MOUNTAINS IN SOUTHEASTERN NM AND FAR WEST TX. A ROBUST 55-65 KNOT
MID-LEVEL JET REMAINS OVER THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHERN PLAINS, WHILE
CURRENT SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS A TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT
EXTENDING SOUTHWESTWARD FROM A SURFACE LOW APPROACHING THE UPPER
MIDWEST. DRY, DOWNSLOPE-ENHANCED WESTERLY FLOW CORRIDORS OF 15-20
MPH SOUTH OF THE COLD FRONT WILL SUPPORT AN ENHANCED FIRE WEATHER
THREAT ACROSS PORTIONS EASTERN NM AND WESTERN TX THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON. THE PERSISTENT DOWNSLOPE REGIME INHIBITED OVERNIGHT RH
RECOVERIES, WITH MINIMUM RH REDUCTIONS OF AROUND 10% LIKELY ACROSS
SOUTHEASTERN NM INTO FAR WEST AND NORTHWESTERN TX BY AFTERNOON PEAK
HEATING. THESE FIRE-EFFECTIVE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND RECEPTIVE FUELS
WILL PROMOTE A HIGHER POTENTIAL FOR WILDFIRE SPREAD.
..WILLIAMS.. 04/27/2026
PREV DISCUSSION
/ISSUED 0145 AM CDT MON APR 27 2026/
..SYNOPSIS
ELEVATED TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THIS
AFTERNOON ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS. EARLY-MORNING SURFACE
OBSERVATIONS SHOW THAT A VERY DRY AIR MASS RESIDES OVER THE
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE 15-25 F
RANGE FOR MOST LOCATIONS. THIS AIR MASS RESULTED IN RH MINIMUMS
GENERALLY NEAR 10% YESTERDAY, AND WITH NO MOISTURE RECOVERY EXPECTED
OVER THE NEXT 24-48 HOURS, SIMILAR RH VALUES ARE ANTICIPATED THIS
AFTERNOON.
GRADIENT WINDS WILL GENERALLY INCREASE TO 15-20 MPH ACROSS THE
REGION THROUGH LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON BEFORE GRADUALLY
ABATING BY EARLY EVENING AS A SURFACE CYCLONE DRIFTS TOWARDS THE MS
VALLEY/MIDWEST REGION. CRITICAL CONDITIONS APPEAR MOST LIKELY
ROUGHLY ALONG THE I-40 CORRIDOR AND DOWNWIND OF THE SACRAMENTO
MOUNTAINS. HERE, RESIDUAL BELTS OF 20-30 MPH LOW-LEVEL FLOW WITHIN
THE BOUNDARY LAYER WILL HELP SUPPORT SUSTAINED WINDS CLOSER TO 20
MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30-35 MPH. GIVEN DRY CONDITIONS OVER PRECEDING
DAYS AND RECENT NEW FIRE ACTIVITY, FUELS WILL SUPPORT SOME DEGREE OF
FIRE SPREAD.
..PLEASE SEE WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV/FIRE FOR GRAPHIC PRODUCT
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
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