


Fire Weather Outlook Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
713 FNUS21 KWNS 211641 FWDDY1 Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1140 AM CDT Sat Jun 21 2025 Valid 211700Z - 221200Z ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR EASTERN GREAT BASIN... Morning satellite imagery shows mainly clear conditions across much of the southwest into southern California, with the exception of a notable marine layer inland across the LA Basin. Surface observations show warming and mixing well underway, with relative humidity in the teens from southern Nevada north into Arizona/Utah and southern Wyoming. Several hours of Critical fire weather conditions are expected within these regions, with winds increasing through the afternoon with the cold front passage and deeper mixing. A small extension was made to the Elevated in New Mexico to account for latest trends with increasing wind speeds amid critical fuels. See previous discussion below for more information concerning Elevated conditions expected in the Central Valley and Santa Barbara Coast in California. ..Thornton.. 06/21/2025 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0122 AM CDT Sat Jun 21 2025/ ...Synopsis... Widespread elevated to critical fire weather conditions are expected again this afternoon across a large swath of the eastern Great Basin and Four Corners region. An upper ridge is evident across the central CONUS in early-morning water-vapor imagery. Across the Pacific Northwest, an upper wave continues to slowly amplify as a low/mid-level cold front pushes southeast into the western Great Basin. A belt of strong southwesterly flow will remain in place across the eastern Great Basin and greater Four Corners region through peak heating ahead of the front. Strong winds within the pre-frontal regime, combined with antecedent dry conditions and receptive fuels, will promote widespread fire weather concerns. ...Southern Nevada into southern Wyoming... Little to no appreciable moisture recovery is expected over the next 12-24 hours across the eastern Great Basin and parts of the Four Corners. The very dry conditions sampled by 00 UTC RAOBs and early-morning surface obs should largely remain in place with another day of RH minimums in the single digits expected. A deep, dry boundary layer will promote efficient downward mixing of the stronger mid-level winds. Similar conditions yesterday (Friday) resulted in widespread sustained winds between 20-25 mph with frequent gusts between 35-50 mph. Similar wind speeds are expected today, albeit within a more confined corridor given the impingement of the cold front from the northwest. Active fires are noted in GOES IR imagery across the region, which indicates that fuels remain very supportive of fire spread. The passage of the cold front later this evening/tonight will result in a wind shift from southwest to northwesterly, which could result in additional fire spread. ...CA Central Valley... Northerly down-valley winds are expected to strengthen to 15-20 mph within the Sacramento/San Joaquin Valley this afternoon within the post-frontal regime. Despite an influx of cooler air, downslope warming/drying should promote areas of 15-20% RH by peak heating. Elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions are expected, and dry grasses within the valley should support the fire concern. ...Santa Barbara Coast... Northerly downslope winds are expected to increase off the Sierra Madre and San Rafael mountains as the cold front passes later this afternoon/tonight. This will promote elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions along the Santa Barbara coast where fuels have sufficiently dried in recent days to support fire spread. ...Central High Plains... 15-25 mph southwesterly winds are expected this afternoon behind a surface trough/dryline. Trajectories emanating off the higher terrain, coupled with ample daytime heating, will promote sufficient drying for RH minimums in the teens. Somewhat widespread elevated to critical fire weather conditions are expected; however, spring green up of grasses and recent rainfall should modulate the overall fire potential. ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... $$