037
FNUS22 KWNS 220504
FWDDY2

Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1203 AM CDT Wed Jul 22 2026

Valid 231200Z - 241200Z

...Synopsis...
Upper-level troughing will continue across the eastern U.S. on Day
2/Thursday as surface high pressure builds in across the Ohio Valley
behind a southward progressing cold front. A long-lived upper ridge
across the Pacific Northwest will finally begin to flatten and break
down owing to an approaching eastern Pacific upper trough.

...Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies...
As upper-level flow transitions from broadly southerly to
southwesterly, monsoonal moisture will be shunted northeastward as a
dry airmass returns to the Inland Northwest. Daytime
destabilization, ample mid-level moisture, and fast storm motions
over the Columbia Basin into the Northern Rockies will promote
isolated wet/dry thunderstorms. In addition, preceding days of hot
and dry conditions have further exacerbated the fuelscape, leading
to widespread 90-95th percentile ERCs. As upper level flow
strengthens and impinges upon the Northwest, tightening pressure
gradients along the Cascades will promote very gusty winds amid a
very dry boundary layer. Elevated highlights have been introduced
where RH values should decline to less than 20% as winds increase to
15-20 mph (localized gusts up to 35 mph in terrain-favored areas).
Greater concern for new ignitions and impacts to ongoing fires exist
where the Elevated and Isolated Dry Thunderstorm highlights overlap.

...Carolinas...
Residual dry and breezy conditions will continue across the
Carolinas ahead of a slow approaching cold front. At peak heating,
RH values will decline to 30-40 percent as southwesterly winds
increase to 15 mph amid 80-90th percentile ERCs. Scattered to
widespread thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are expected across the
region as the front pushes through, bringing relief to the fuelscape
and alleviating broader fire concerns.

..Elizalde-Garcia.. 07/22/2026

...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product...

$$