300
FNUS21 KWNS 201638
FWDDY1
DAY 1 FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1138 AM CDT WED MAY 20 2026
VALID 201700Z - 211200Z
THE ONGOING FORECAST REMAINS ON TRACK. ELEVATED TO LOCALLY CRITICAL
FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS PARTS OF THE SOUTHWEST
THIS AFTERNOON; SEE THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOR MORE INFORMATION.
..ELIZALDE-GARCIA.. 05/20/2026
PREV DISCUSSION
/ISSUED 1250 AM CDT WED MAY 20 2026/
..SYNOPSIS
THE REMNANTS OF A SIGNIFICANT MID-LEVEL TROUGH WILL REMAIN OVER THE
WESTERN CONUS TODAY. GIVEN THE COLDER WEATHER AND PRECIPITATION
ACROSS SOME AREAS OF THE CONUS, THE SOUTHWEST WILL BE THE REGION OF
PRIMARY CONCERN TODAY. HOWEVER, BY MID-AFTERNOON TODAY, 500 MB WINDS
WILL STRUGGLE TO REACH 40 MPH OVER MUCH OF THE SOUTHWEST. MEANWHILE,
NORTHWEST MID-LEVEL FLOW CONTINUES OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WHILE
THE JET MAX FORMERLY OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS CONTINUES TO PROGRESS
EASTWARD WITH A COLD FRONT SURGING OFFSHORE OF THE EASTERN US.
..SOUTHWEST
NEAR-NORMAL SURFACE TEMPERATURES FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR AND A
WELL-MIXED BOUNDARY LAYER IN PLACE OVER THE SOUTHWEST WILL
CONTRIBUTE TO SOUTH/SOUTHWESTERLY SURFACE WINDS OF 10-20 MPH AND
MINIMUM RHS OF 10-20%. THESE WEATHER CONDITIONS IN PLACE OVER
RECEPTIVE FUELS (ERCS HOVERING AROUND 80-90TH PERCENTILE) WILL YIELD
ELEVATED, WITH SOME LOCALLY CRITICAL, FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY
FROM AROUND 10 AM LOCAL TIME TO AROUND SUNSET.
..PLEASE SEE WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV/FIRE FOR GRAPHIC PRODUCT
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
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