Fire Weather Outlook Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
311 FNUS22 KWNS 230526 FWDDY2 Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1225 AM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026 Valid 241200Z - 251200Z ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR NORTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA...NORTHWESTERN NEVADA...AND SOUTH-CENTRAL/SOUTHEASTERN OREGON... ...Synopsis... Upper-level ridging will begin to transition towards the central U.S. as eastern Pacific troughing approaches the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, troughing will persist across the eastern U.S. with several embedded shortwaves providing unsettled conditions in the Midwest and portions of the Southeast. Enhanced southwesterly flow will overspread the Pacific Northwest, Northern Rockies, and the Montana Plains on Day 2/Friday, bringing hot, dry, and windy conditions to a mostly dry fuelscape. With preceding days of mixed wet/dry thunderstorms and abundant lightning being followed by such meteorological conditions, holdover ignitions are likely to emerge. Daytime RH values of less than 20% are expected to combine with southwest-westerly sustained winds of 15-20 mph, warranting Elevated highlights. While some pockets of heavier rainfall from prior days thunderstorms may alleviate localized fuel concerns, the expansive environment is approaching, or has already reached, critical fuel thresholds. A Critical risk area was introduced across northeastern California, northwestern Nevada, and south-central/southeastern Oregon where 15-25 mph southwesterly winds and less than 15% RH will overlap 80-90th percentile ERCs. Critical winds/RH are likely to develop across portions of north-central and northeast Montana as well, but these conditions will likely act as more of a curing event. ..Elizalde-Garcia.. 07/23/2026 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... $$