869
FNUS21 KWNS 230522
FWDDY1
DAY 1 FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1222 AM CDT THU JUL 23 2026
VALID 231200Z - 241200Z
..SYNOPSIS
UPPER-LEVEL TROUGHING WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE EASTERN U.S. AS
SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE OHIO VALLEY. A LONG-LIVED
UPPER RIDGE ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S. WILL FINALLY BEGIN TO FLATTEN
AND BREAK DOWN OWING TO AN APPROACHING EASTERN PACIFIC UPPER TROUGH.
WITHIN THE LAST 24 HOURS, MIXED WET/DRY THUNDERSTORMS HAVE TRAVERSED
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL OREGON AND THE CASCADES. ONLY LOCALIZED AREAS
RECEIVED APPRECIABLE PRECIPITATION, NOT FULLY MITIGATING FUEL
CONCERNS ACROSS THE BROADER ENVIRONMENT. RETURNING DRY AND WINDY
CONDITIONS EAST OF THE CASCADES WILL FURTHER ENHANCE THE FUELSCAPE,
ENCOURAGING LIGHTNING-INDUCED IGNITIONS TO EMERGE AND FURTHER
EXACERBATING NUMEROUS WILDFIRES ACROSS THE REGION.
..PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND NORTHERN ROCKIES
AS UPPER-LEVEL FLOW TRANSITIONS FROM BROADLY SOUTHERLY TO
SOUTHWESTERLY, MONSOONAL MOISTURE WILL BE SHUNTED NORTHEASTWARD AS A
DRY AIRMASS RETURNS TO THE INLAND NORTHWEST. DAYTIME
DESTABILIZATION, AMPLE MID-LEVEL MOISTURE, AND FAST STORM MOTIONS
OVER THE COLUMBIA BASIN INTO THE NORTHERN ROCKIES WILL PROMOTE
ISOLATED WET/DRY THUNDERSTORMS. IN ADDITION, PRECEDING DAYS OF HOT
AND DRY CONDITIONS HAS ALLOWED FUELS TO APPROACH CRITICAL
THRESHOLDS, MAKING THE ENVIRONMENT INCREASINGLY RECEPTIVE TO NEW
IGNITIONS. AS UPPER LEVEL FLOW STRENGTHENS AND IMPINGES UPON THE
NORTHWEST, TIGHTENING SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENTS ALONG THE CASCADES
WILL PROMOTE VERY GUSTY WINDS AMID A DRY BOUNDARY LAYER. ELEVATED
HIGHLIGHTS HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED WHERE RH VALUES WILL DECLINE TO LESS
THAN 20% AS WINDS INCREASE TO 15-20 MPH (LOCALIZED GUSTS UP TO 35
MPH IN TERRAIN-FAVORED AREAS). GREATER CONCERN FOR NEW IGNITIONS AND
IMPACTS TO ONGOING FIRES EXIST WHERE THE ELEVATED AND ISOLATED DRY
THUNDERSTORM HIGHLIGHTS OVERLAP.
..SOUTHERN PLAINS
A MID-LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL TRACK ACROSS THE HIGH PLAINS THIS
AFTERNOON AS A SURFACE LOW EMERGES OVER THE OKLAHOMA/TEXAS
PANHANDLES. AT PEAK HEATING, 15-20% RH WILL COMBINE WITH
SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS OF 10-15 MPH ATOP A MIXED FUELSCAPE. POCKETS OF
CURED GRASSES AND ERCS APPROACHING THE 80-90TH PERCENTILE WILL
PROMOTE LOCALLY ELEVATED FIRE CONCERNS.
..ELIZALDE-GARCIA.. 07/23/2026
..PLEASE SEE WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV/FIRE FOR GRAPHIC PRODUCT
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