851
FNUS21 KWNS 261618
FWDDY1
DAY 1 FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1117 AM CDT SUN JUL 26 2026
VALID 261700Z - 271200Z
..NO CRITICAL AREAS
TODAY'S FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK REMAINS ON-TRACK, WITH ONLY MINOR
MODIFICATIONS MADE TO THE OUTLOOK AREAS BASED ON THE LATEST
HIGH-RESOLUTION WEATHER ENSEMBLES AND FUEL INTEL. THE COMBINATION OF
HOT, DRY, AND BREEZY CONDITIONS AMIDST RECEPTIVE FUELS WILL PROMOTE
A BROAD AREA OF ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM THE WESTERN
GREAT BASIN INTO THE NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY.
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE MOST LIKELY ACROSS PORTIONS OF
NORTHERN MONTANA, AND PARTS OF THE NORTHERN SIERRA INTO THE HARNEY
BASIN, WHERE STRONGER WINDS ARE FORECAST THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE
EVENING. MODERATE TO POOR RH RECOVERIES (20-30%) ARE ALSO EXPECTED
ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN NV TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW MORNING.
SCATTERED, POTENTIALLY HIGH-BASED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS
PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MONTANA AND SURROUNDING AREAS TODAY. HOWEVER,
IT REMAINS UNCLEAR HOW EFFICIENT ANY LIGHTNING-INDUCED IGNITIONS
WILL BE DUE TO RECENT RAINFALL, WITH QUANTITATIVE PRECIPITATION
ESTIMATES SUGGESTING WIDESPREAD 0.25-0.5 INCHES OF RAINFALL OVER THE
LAST 24 HOURS AND LOCALIZED VALUES OVER 1 INCH. WHILE AN ISOLATED
DRY THUNDERSTORM AREA WAS NOT INTRODUCED, A FEW LIGHTNING IGNITIONS
REMAIN POSSIBLE - ESPECIALLY IN AREAS THAT RECEIVED LITTLE RAINFALL
OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS AND/OR ALONG THE PERIPHERY OF ANY HEAVIER
THUNDERSTORM CORES TODAY.
..ELLIOTT.. 07/26/2026
PREV DISCUSSION
/ISSUED 1122 PM CDT SAT JUL 25 2026/
..SYNOPSIS
AN UPPER RIDGE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE ACROSS THE WESTERN CONUS TODAY,
WITH STRONG MID-LEVEL FLOW CRESTING THE RIDGE ACROSS THE WEST COAST
INTO THE NORTHERN ROCKIES. A DRY AND DEEP BOUNDARY LAYER WILL
ENCOURAGE DOWNWARD MIXING OF THIS STRONGER FLOW ALOFT ALONG THE
PERIPHERY OF THE RIDGE BY AFTERNOON PEAK HEATING. A BROAD AREA OF AT
LEAST 15 MPH SUSTAINED SOUTHWESTERLY SURFACE WINDS AMID 20 PERCENT
RH WILL OVERSPREAD PORTIONS OF THE WESTERN GREAT BASIN INTO NORTHERN
HIGH PLAINS, WARRANTING ELEVATED HIGHLIGHTS GIVEN DRY FUELS.
GUIDANCE CONSENSUS ALSO DEPICTS LOCALLY STRONGER WINDS ACROSS
PORTIONS OF NORTHERN MONTANA, AND PARTS OF THE NORTHERN SIERRA INTO
THE HARNEY BASIN, JUSTIFYING THE CONTINUATION OF CRITICAL
HIGHLIGHTS.
ANOTHER DAY OF SCATTERED, POTENTIALLY HIGH-BASED THUNDERSTORMS ARE
EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MONTANA. HOWEVER, GIVEN LESS
RECEPTIVE FUELS IN THIS AREA, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME ACCUMULATED
RAINFALL FROM THE PRIOR DAY'S STORMS, IT IS UNCLEAR HOW EFFICIENT
LIGHTNING-INDUCED IGNITIONS WILL BE. THEREFORE, ISOLATED DRY
THUNDERSTORM HIGHLIGHTS HAVE BEEN WITHHELD THIS OUTLOOK.
..PLEASE SEE WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV/FIRE FOR GRAPHIC PRODUCT
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