216
FNUS22 KWNS 241909
FWDDY2
DAY 2 FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0108 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2026
VALID 251200Z - 261200Z
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PARTS OF EAST-CENTRAL AND
SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...
..20Z UPDATE
ELEVATED AND CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED
FROM THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT IN THE LEE OF
THE ROCKIES BENEATH NORTHWESTERLY MID-LEVEL FLOW WILL PROMOTE STRONG
DOWNSLOPE WINDS ATOP A DRY FUELSCAPE. HIGH-LEVEL CLOUD COVER IS
LIKELY THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND SURFACE DEWPOINTS MAY RISE SOME OWING
TO MID-LEVEL MOISTURE INFILTRATING THE AREA. HOWEVER, GIVEN A NARROW
CORRIDOR OF 20-30 MPH WESTERLY SURFACE WINDS (GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH),
RH VALUES HOVERING AROUND 15%, AND A PROLONGED PERIOD OF HOT, DRY,
WINDY CONDITIONS, LOCALIZED CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER REMAINS LIKELY FOR
SOUTHEASTERN NM. SEE THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOR MORE INFORMATION.
..ELIZALDE-GARCIA/BARNES.. 02/24/2026
PREV DISCUSSION
/ISSUED 1245 AM CST TUE FEB 24 2026/
..SYNOPSIS
..CENTRAL/SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS
MODERATELY STRONG NORTHWESTERLY MID-LEVEL WINDS WILL BE MAINTAINED
ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ROCKIES ON WEDNESDAY. LEE TROUGHING
WILL EXTEND ACROSS MUCH OF THE CENTRAL/SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS. DRY
DOWNSLOPE WINDS OF 20-30 MPH APPEAR POSSIBLE IN PORTIONS OF
EAST-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AS STRONGER UPPER-LEVEL WINDS
NUDGE FARTHER SOUTH AND ALIGN WITH THE PEAK OF THE CROSS-TERRAIN
SURFACE GRADIENT. WITH AT LEAST SOME CONNECTION TO THE MID-LEVEL
MOISTURE PLUME ON THE WEST COAST, HIGH-LEVEL CLOUD COVER AND A
MODEST INCREASE IN SURFACE DEWPOINTS ARE POSSIBLE. GUIDANCE IS NOT
OVERLY CONFIDENT IN RH LOWER THAN 15% FOR MORE THAN A SHORT PERIOD.
HOWEVER, THE ENHANCED WINDS AT THE SURFACE WILL STILL DRIVE A PERIOD
OF CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER DURING THE AFTERNOON.
ELSEWHERE WITHIN THE HIGH PLAINS, RH OF AROUND 20% SHOULD BE MORE
COMMON. WHILE 15-20 MPH WILL OCCUR IN MOST LOCATIONS,
TERRAIN-FAVORED AREAS COULD SEE SPEEDS OF 20-25 MPH.
..EDWARDS PLATEAU INTO PARTS OF CENTRAL TEXAS
AS A MODEST SURFACE LOW EVOLVES SOUTH AND EAST DURING THE DAY, WINDS
OF 15-20 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. DURING THE AFTERNOON RH OF AROUND
15-20% CAN BE EXPECTED. LACK OF STRONGER WINDS WILL PRECLUDE A
GREATER FIRE WEATHER RISK, BUT ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER IS PROBABLE.
..PLEASE SEE WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV/FIRE FOR GRAPHIC PRODUCT
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
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