350
FNUS22 KWNS 130652
FWDDY2
DAY 2 FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0151 AM CDT FRI MAR 13 2026
VALID 141200Z - 151200Z
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR CENTRAL/EASTERN NEW MEXICO AND
PORTIONS OF WEST TEXAS...
..SYNOPSIS
A SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
INTO THE NORTHERN ROCKIES ON D2/SATURDAY. AS WESTERLY FLOW DEVELOPS
ACROSS THE ROCKIES, STRONG LEE CYCLONE DEVELOPMENT IS LIKELY ON
D2/SATURDAY ACROSS THE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE. AS A RESULT, WESTERLY
SURFACE GRADIENTS WILL STRENGTHEN ACROSS THE CENTRAL/SOUTHERN HIGH
PLAINS. VERY STRONG/DRY DOWNSLOPE FLOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP,
PARTICULARLY ACROSS EASTERN NEW MEXICO INTO FAR WESTERN TEXAS. IN
THIS REGION, SUSTAINED WESTERLY SURFACE WINDS 15-20 MPH WILL OVERLAP
RELATIVE HUMIDITY REDUCTIONS TO 10-15 PERCENT. THIS IN COMBINATION
WITH DRY FUELS WILL SUPPORT MAINTAINING CRITICAL FIRE AREAS FOR
SATURDAY. BROADER ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS ARE EXPECTED TO
EXTEND INTO EASTERN COLORADO AND FAR SOUTHEASTERN WYOMING/WESTERN
NEBRASKA. THE IMMEDIATE AREA IN THE LEE OF THE HIGHER TERRAIN IN
EASTERN COLORADO MAY SEE LOCALLY CRITICAL CONDITIONS. THIS AREA MAY
NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN FURTHER OUTLOOKS IF TRENDS INCREASE OR
CONFIDENCE IN MOUNTAIN WAVE ACTIVITY INCREASES. ELEVATED TO LOCALLY
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY TO PERSIST OVERNIGHT ON
PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS.
ELEVATED TO CRITICAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WILL EXTEND INTO
PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA. FOR NOW, FUELS IN THIS
REGION ARE NOT SUPPORTIVE BUT THIS EVENT WILL WORK TO PRECONDITION
FUELS AMID TEMPERATURES WELL ABOVE NORMAL.
..THORNTON.. 03/13/2026
..PLEASE SEE WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV/FIRE FOR GRAPHIC PRODUCT
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