ZCZC SPCFWDDY1 ALL
FNUS21 KWNS 171649
Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1149 AM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025
Valid 171700Z - 181200Z
...EXTREMELY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PARTS OF NEW MEXICO INTO
WESTERN OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS PANHANDLES...
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PARTS OF THE SOUTHWEST INTO THE
SOUTHERN/CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS...
Latest model guidance consensus and surface observations suggest
corridor of Extreme fire weather conditions should extend from
southwestern and central New Mexico into far western portions of the
Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles this afternoon. In addition, Critical
highlights were extended slightly eastward into western Oklahoma and
northwest Texas. An accelerating mid-level jet over the Southwest
and deepening lee surface trough will support southwest winds of
30-40 mph across southwestern New Mexico into the Oklahoma/Texas
Panhandles. A dry, well-mixed boundary layer will reinforce
widespread relative humidity of 10 percent or less across much of
New Mexico and adjacent High Plains. This weather environment will
allow for Critical to Extreme fire weather conditions supportive of
rapid fire spread in dry fuels.
..Williams/Moore.. 04/17/2025
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1255 AM CDT Thu Apr 17 2025/
...Synopsis...
A potent mid-level jet will overspread New Mexico during the
afternoon today. A surface low will deepen near the Colorado/Kansas
border. A broad region of high-end fire weather will be present
across parts of the Southwest and the adjacent southern/central High
Plains.
...New Mexico...
The most significant fire weather concerns are expected from
southwest into northeast New Mexico. Here, the mid-level jet will be
quite favorably timed with peak heating. Sustained wind of 30-40 mph
and gusts of 55-65 mph appear probable during the afternoon. RH of
5-10% can be expected. With ERCs near or above the 90th percentile
(with some around the 97th), significant fire spread can be expected
with any ignitions.
...Southern High Plains...
While some transitioning/greening fuels complicate the forecast, the
still intense meteorological conditions will drive critical fire
weather for parts of West Texas. Areas of the eastern Panhandle and
South Plains (areas primarily east of the Caprock) will see
similarly dry and windy conditions, but less receptive fuels (per
TICC and other local fuel information) will keep fire weather
elevated. RH of 5-15% with winds of 15-25 mph are expected. The
highest wind speeds will be near the New Mexico border into the
northwest Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles.
...Central High Plains...
With the deepening surface low and some portion of the mid-level jet
impacting the region, westerly downslope winds in Colorado and
southwesterly winds in Kansas will promote elevated to critical fire
weather. Strong winds (20-30 mph) are expected for much of the Front
Range into southwest Kansas. RH will be similarly low as farther
south/west -- values ranging from 5-15%. The fire weather threat
will extend as far north as the cold front. A few locations could
see elevated to briefly critical conditions prior to winds shifting
to the north and RH quickly rising.
U.S. Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook
U.S. Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook
ZCZC SPCFWDD38 ALL
FNUS28 KWNS 162137
Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0437 PM CDT Wed Apr 16 2025
Valid 181200Z - 241200Z
A long-wave upper-level trough will translate northeastward from the
Intermountain West into the Great Lakes region through the weekend.
An attendant cold front will also progress south and eastward
through early next week providing widespread wetting rains from
eastern Texas into the Midwest mitigating fire weather concerns for
a large portion of the central U.S. However, fire weather concerns
will persist on the southern periphery of the upper-trough where
stronger mid-level winds and persistent dry fuels remain over
portions of New Mexico and far western Texas on day 3/Friday.
Confidence remains high for a 70 percent chance of Critical fire
weather conditions across this area. A cooler and more moist,
post-frontal air mass infiltrates into much of New Mexico on Day
4/Saturday, limiting fire weather threat to the Big Bend area of
Texas where a 40 percent chance of Critical fire weather conditions
was introduced. Forecast confidence in noteworthy fire weather
threat areas decreases early next week as a more zonal flow pattern
sets up across the U.S. Dry and breezy conditions could return to
portions of the Southwest by the end of the week (Day 8) with
another possible upper-trough moving into the Western U.S. providing
a dry, southwesterly flow regime.
..Williams/Moore.. 04/16/2025