FNUS22 KWNS 191837

FWDDY2



Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook  

NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK

0136 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026



Valid 201200Z - 211200Z



...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN WYOMING...



No changes were made to the drawn areas. The expected conditions

remain on track with the latest forecast guidance. Across portions

of central/northern Nevada and extreme southeast Oregon, expect to

see localized sustained winds of 10-15 mph and RHs down to 10-15%

during peak heating on Day 2/Friday. Given the marginal early season

fuel conditions and sporadic coverage of coincident winds and RH,

fire weather highlights were not introduced with this issuance.

However, trends over the western Great Basin and nearby areas will

be watched with future forecasts.



..Stearns/Williams.. 03/19/2026



.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0204 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026/



...Synopsis...

A persistent upper-level ridge will remain centered over the

Southwest on D2/Friday, with modest northwest flow aloft persisting

across the central/northern High Plains. Surface high pressure over

the Intermountain West coupled with lee troughing across the

northern Plains will support a continued downslope wind regime, with

dry/windy conditions forecast to yield elevated to critical fire

weather concerns across portions of the central and northern High

Plains.



...Central/Northern High Plains...

Anomalously strong upper-level ridging across the Southwest will

continue to support the potential for record warm temperatures

across much of the West. With high pressure remaining positioned

across the Intermountain West and lee troughing in place across the

northern Great Plains, a persistent downslope wind regime is

forecast to yield sustained west-northwesterly surface winds of

15-25 mph across much of the central/northern High Plains. Coupled

with reduced RH values of 10-15% and receptive fuels, this will

support critical fire weather conditions across portions of

central/eastern Wyoming. Elevated fire weather concerns are forecast

across adjacent areas of the western Wyoming Basin and portions of

southwestern South Dakota and western Nebraska where lighter surface

winds of 15-20 mph are forecast to overlap reduced minimum RH values

of 10-15%. Farther north across much of southern Montana, RH values

are expected to remain more marginal (15-25%); however, ongoing fire

activity and sustained westerly surface winds of 15-25 mph warrant

the addition of Elevated fire weather highlights.



...Oregon...

Some guidance indicates westerly surface winds will strengthen amid

a tightening surface pressure gradient ahead of an approaching cold

front through D2/Friday. Continued dry/windy conditions may support

localized elevated fire weather concerns, but remaining uncertainty

regarding the strength and duration of stronger winds as well as how

low RH will fall in the afternoon precludes the inclusion of

Elevated fire weather highlights at this time. Conditions will

continue to be monitored for future updates.



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



$$