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The Louisiana State Fire Marshal pleaded with the public not to burn materials outdoors in open areas amid dry, windy conditions. KPEL 96.5 (Lafayette, La.), Feb 28, 2024

SPC Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0202 AM CST Thu Feb 29 2024 Valid 291200Z - 011200Z ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PARTS OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS... ...Synopsis... In the wake of a departing upper trough over the eastern US, a weak trough over the southern Plains should lift north into the central US. At the surface, high pressure over the eastern US will drive strong southerly return flow across parts of OK KS and NE this afternoon. Warm and dry surface conditions will also be present supporting potential for critical fire-weather conditions. ...Central Plains... With the approach of the weak upper low, surface pressure gradients are forecast to quickly tighten over the southern and central Plains. Surface winds will quickly increase to 20-25 mph with gusts as high as 30-35 mph through the day. Aided by clear skies and strong heating, afternoon RH values within the dry southerly flow should fall as low as 15-20%. While area fuel loading is not particularly dense, numerous days of preceding dry and windy conditions have resulted in critical dryness of short-hour fuels. Large vapor pressure deficits combined with the strong winds and clear skies should support additional drying through the day. Thus, widespread elevated and critical fire-weather conditions appear likely across parts of north-central/northeast KS into southeastern NE. ...Gulf Coast... Dry surface conditions are also possible across parts of the Southeast and central Gulf Coast in the wake of the departing cold front. While winds are not overly strong, lower humidity should overlap with areas of limited rainfall in recent weeks. Localized fire-weather concerns are possible before rain chances increase late tonight into Friday. ..Lyons.. 02/29/2024 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0202 AM CST Thu Feb 29 2024 Valid 291200Z - 011200Z ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PARTS OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS... ...Synopsis... In the wake of a departing upper trough over the eastern US, a weak trough over the southern Plains should lift north into the central US. At the surface, high pressure over the eastern US will drive strong southerly return flow across parts of OK KS and NE this afternoon. Warm and dry surface conditions will also be present supporting potential for critical fire-weather conditions. ...Central Plains... With the approach of the weak upper low, surface pressure gradients are forecast to quickly tighten over the southern and central Plains. Surface winds will quickly increase to 20-25 mph with gusts as high as 30-35 mph through the day. Aided by clear skies and strong heating, afternoon RH values within the dry southerly flow should fall as low as 15-20%. While area fuel loading is not particularly dense, numerous days of preceding dry and windy conditions have resulted in critical dryness of short-hour fuels. Large vapor pressure deficits combined with the strong winds and clear skies should support additional drying through the day. Thus, widespread elevated and critical fire-weather conditions appear likely across parts of north-central/northeast KS into southeastern NE. ...Gulf Coast... Dry surface conditions are also possible across parts of the Southeast and central Gulf Coast in the wake of the departing cold front. While winds are not overly strong, lower humidity should overlap with areas of limited rainfall in recent weeks. Localized fire-weather concerns are possible before rain chances increase late tonight into Friday. ..Lyons.. 02/29/2024 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0202 AM CST Thu Feb 29 2024 Valid 291200Z - 011200Z ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PARTS OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS... ...Synopsis... In the wake of a departing upper trough over the eastern US, a weak trough over the southern Plains should lift north into the central US. At the surface, high pressure over the eastern US will drive strong southerly return flow across parts of OK KS and NE this afternoon. Warm and dry surface conditions will also be present supporting potential for critical fire-weather conditions. ...Central Plains... With the approach of the weak upper low, surface pressure gradients are forecast to quickly tighten over the southern and central Plains. Surface winds will quickly increase to 20-25 mph with gusts as high as 30-35 mph through the day. Aided by clear skies and strong heating, afternoon RH values within the dry southerly flow should fall as low as 15-20%. While area fuel loading is not particularly dense, numerous days of preceding dry and windy conditions have resulted in critical dryness of short-hour fuels. Large vapor pressure deficits combined with the strong winds and clear skies should support additional drying through the day. Thus, widespread elevated and critical fire-weather conditions appear likely across parts of north-central/northeast KS into southeastern NE. ...Gulf Coast... Dry surface conditions are also possible across parts of the Southeast and central Gulf Coast in the wake of the departing cold front. While winds are not overly strong, lower humidity should overlap with areas of limited rainfall in recent weeks. Localized fire-weather concerns are possible before rain chances increase late tonight into Friday. ..Lyons.. 02/29/2024 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0202 AM CST Thu Feb 29 2024 Valid 291200Z - 011200Z ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PARTS OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS... ...Synopsis... In the wake of a departing upper trough over the eastern US, a weak trough over the southern Plains should lift north into the central US. At the surface, high pressure over the eastern US will drive strong southerly return flow across parts of OK KS and NE this afternoon. Warm and dry surface conditions will also be present supporting potential for critical fire-weather conditions. ...Central Plains... With the approach of the weak upper low, surface pressure gradients are forecast to quickly tighten over the southern and central Plains. Surface winds will quickly increase to 20-25 mph with gusts as high as 30-35 mph through the day. Aided by clear skies and strong heating, afternoon RH values within the dry southerly flow should fall as low as 15-20%. While area fuel loading is not particularly dense, numerous days of preceding dry and windy conditions have resulted in critical dryness of short-hour fuels. Large vapor pressure deficits combined with the strong winds and clear skies should support additional drying through the day. Thus, widespread elevated and critical fire-weather conditions appear likely across parts of north-central/northeast KS into southeastern NE. ...Gulf Coast... Dry surface conditions are also possible across parts of the Southeast and central Gulf Coast in the wake of the departing cold front. While winds are not overly strong, lower humidity should overlap with areas of limited rainfall in recent weeks. Localized fire-weather concerns are possible before rain chances increase late tonight into Friday. ..Lyons.. 02/29/2024 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0202 AM CST Thu Feb 29 2024 Valid 291200Z - 011200Z ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PARTS OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS... ...Synopsis... In the wake of a departing upper trough over the eastern US, a weak trough over the southern Plains should lift north into the central US. At the surface, high pressure over the eastern US will drive strong southerly return flow across parts of OK KS and NE this afternoon. Warm and dry surface conditions will also be present supporting potential for critical fire-weather conditions. ...Central Plains... With the approach of the weak upper low, surface pressure gradients are forecast to quickly tighten over the southern and central Plains. Surface winds will quickly increase to 20-25 mph with gusts as high as 30-35 mph through the day. Aided by clear skies and strong heating, afternoon RH values within the dry southerly flow should fall as low as 15-20%. While area fuel loading is not particularly dense, numerous days of preceding dry and windy conditions have resulted in critical dryness of short-hour fuels. Large vapor pressure deficits combined with the strong winds and clear skies should support additional drying through the day. Thus, widespread elevated and critical fire-weather conditions appear likely across parts of north-central/northeast KS into southeastern NE. ...Gulf Coast... Dry surface conditions are also possible across parts of the Southeast and central Gulf Coast in the wake of the departing cold front. While winds are not overly strong, lower humidity should overlap with areas of limited rainfall in recent weeks. Localized fire-weather concerns are possible before rain chances increase late tonight into Friday. ..Lyons.. 02/29/2024 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

St. Martin Parish fire officials responded to almost two dozen unattended fires over the weekend that required assistance to control as the flames threatened neighboring property. Fire departments from all across St. Martin Parish dealt with the 23 incidents. KPEL 96.5 (Lafayette, La.), Feb 28, 2024

SPC 0830Z Day 3 Outlook
Day 3 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0135 AM CST Thu Feb 29 2024 Valid 021200Z - 031200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Severe thunderstorms are not expected on Saturday. ...Synopsis... Isolated thunderstorm chances will continue across parts of the Southeast and FL on Saturday as a weak shortwave impulse migrates across the region. Surface dewpoints in the low/mid 60s across the FL Peninsula are expected. However, a warm and dry layer aloft will limit surface-based instability, with MLCAPE generally less than 750 J/kg. Large-scale ascent also will remain weak across the region. Overall severe potential appears low. Across the western U.S., the upper trough along the Pacific Coast will continue to slowly develop south and east. Isolated thunderstorms may persist near the OR coast and into parts northern CA ..Leitman.. 02/29/2024 Read more

SPC 0830Z Day 3 Outlook
Day 3 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0135 AM CST Thu Feb 29 2024 Valid 021200Z - 031200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Severe thunderstorms are not expected on Saturday. ...Synopsis... Isolated thunderstorm chances will continue across parts of the Southeast and FL on Saturday as a weak shortwave impulse migrates across the region. Surface dewpoints in the low/mid 60s across the FL Peninsula are expected. However, a warm and dry layer aloft will limit surface-based instability, with MLCAPE generally less than 750 J/kg. Large-scale ascent also will remain weak across the region. Overall severe potential appears low. Across the western U.S., the upper trough along the Pacific Coast will continue to slowly develop south and east. Isolated thunderstorms may persist near the OR coast and into parts northern CA ..Leitman.. 02/29/2024 Read more

SPC 0830Z Day 3 Outlook
Day 3 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0135 AM CST Thu Feb 29 2024 Valid 021200Z - 031200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Severe thunderstorms are not expected on Saturday. ...Synopsis... Isolated thunderstorm chances will continue across parts of the Southeast and FL on Saturday as a weak shortwave impulse migrates across the region. Surface dewpoints in the low/mid 60s across the FL Peninsula are expected. However, a warm and dry layer aloft will limit surface-based instability, with MLCAPE generally less than 750 J/kg. Large-scale ascent also will remain weak across the region. Overall severe potential appears low. Across the western U.S., the upper trough along the Pacific Coast will continue to slowly develop south and east. Isolated thunderstorms may persist near the OR coast and into parts northern CA ..Leitman.. 02/29/2024 Read more

SPC 0830Z Day 3 Outlook
Day 3 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0135 AM CST Thu Feb 29 2024 Valid 021200Z - 031200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Severe thunderstorms are not expected on Saturday. ...Synopsis... Isolated thunderstorm chances will continue across parts of the Southeast and FL on Saturday as a weak shortwave impulse migrates across the region. Surface dewpoints in the low/mid 60s across the FL Peninsula are expected. However, a warm and dry layer aloft will limit surface-based instability, with MLCAPE generally less than 750 J/kg. Large-scale ascent also will remain weak across the region. Overall severe potential appears low. Across the western U.S., the upper trough along the Pacific Coast will continue to slowly develop south and east. Isolated thunderstorms may persist near the OR coast and into parts northern CA ..Leitman.. 02/29/2024 Read more

SPC 0830Z Day 3 Outlook
Day 3 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0135 AM CST Thu Feb 29 2024 Valid 021200Z - 031200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Severe thunderstorms are not expected on Saturday. ...Synopsis... Isolated thunderstorm chances will continue across parts of the Southeast and FL on Saturday as a weak shortwave impulse migrates across the region. Surface dewpoints in the low/mid 60s across the FL Peninsula are expected. However, a warm and dry layer aloft will limit surface-based instability, with MLCAPE generally less than 750 J/kg. Large-scale ascent also will remain weak across the region. Overall severe potential appears low. Across the western U.S., the upper trough along the Pacific Coast will continue to slowly develop south and east. Isolated thunderstorms may persist near the OR coast and into parts northern CA ..Leitman.. 02/29/2024 Read more

Brownsville was in a stage 2 drought warning as Amistad and Falcon reservoirs on the Rio Grande River were very low. ValleyCentral.com (Brownsville, Texas), Feb 28, 2024

Stage 1 drought restrictions took effect for Pflugerville on March 1, allowing outdoor watering only once per week. The aim was to reduce average daily water use by 10% as storage in the Highland Lakes, the city’s main water source, was below 1,200,000 acre-feet. Community Impact (Austin, Texas), Feb 27, 2024

Drought severely stressed and killed many of Mississippi's magnolia trees. Some magnolias may be able to recover and survive, but others were obviously dead. Mississippi Clarion Ledger (Jackson), Feb 26, 2024

The Southwest Florida Water Management District approved a request from Tampa Bay Water to temporarily increase its permitted withdrawals from the Alafia River from 10% to 19% above baseline flow to store more water in the reservoir before the driest part of the dry season, which is typically in April. Tampa Bay Times (Fla.), Feb 27, 2024

SPC 0700Z Day 2 Outlook
Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1236 AM CST Thu Feb 29 2024 Valid 011200Z - 021200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Severe thunderstorms are not expected on Friday. ...Synopsis... A weak upper shortwave trough will migrate from the Lower MS Valley toward the Mid-Atlantic vicinity on Friday. Only very weak surface low development may occur near or just offshore the central Gulf Coast in response to the upper wave. Most forecast guidance keeps any deeper boundary-layer moisture offshore. Cloud cover will inhibit much warming during the day, along with ongoing showers and thunderstorms. Though modest midlevel lapse rates will reside over the region, surface-based destabilization is not expected and at least a weak low-level inversion is depicted in most forecast soundings. Nevertheless, minor elevated instability will support isolated to scattered thunderstorm activity. Some gusty winds may accompany thunderstorms given strong flow not far above the near-surface layer, but overall severe potential appears low given poor low-level thermodynamics. Across the western U.S., a persistent, broad upper trough will continue to impact the Pacific Northwest vicinity. Strong deep-layers westerly flow will maintain a deep moist layer. Cold temperature aloft will also result in steep lapse rates and sufficient instability to support isolated thunderstorms in orographic ascent along the WA/OR coast and into northern CA. ..Leitman.. 02/29/2024 Read more

SPC 0700Z Day 2 Outlook
Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1236 AM CST Thu Feb 29 2024 Valid 011200Z - 021200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Severe thunderstorms are not expected on Friday. ...Synopsis... A weak upper shortwave trough will migrate from the Lower MS Valley toward the Mid-Atlantic vicinity on Friday. Only very weak surface low development may occur near or just offshore the central Gulf Coast in response to the upper wave. Most forecast guidance keeps any deeper boundary-layer moisture offshore. Cloud cover will inhibit much warming during the day, along with ongoing showers and thunderstorms. Though modest midlevel lapse rates will reside over the region, surface-based destabilization is not expected and at least a weak low-level inversion is depicted in most forecast soundings. Nevertheless, minor elevated instability will support isolated to scattered thunderstorm activity. Some gusty winds may accompany thunderstorms given strong flow not far above the near-surface layer, but overall severe potential appears low given poor low-level thermodynamics. Across the western U.S., a persistent, broad upper trough will continue to impact the Pacific Northwest vicinity. Strong deep-layers westerly flow will maintain a deep moist layer. Cold temperature aloft will also result in steep lapse rates and sufficient instability to support isolated thunderstorms in orographic ascent along the WA/OR coast and into northern CA. ..Leitman.. 02/29/2024 Read more

SPC 0700Z Day 2 Outlook
Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1236 AM CST Thu Feb 29 2024 Valid 011200Z - 021200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Severe thunderstorms are not expected on Friday. ...Synopsis... A weak upper shortwave trough will migrate from the Lower MS Valley toward the Mid-Atlantic vicinity on Friday. Only very weak surface low development may occur near or just offshore the central Gulf Coast in response to the upper wave. Most forecast guidance keeps any deeper boundary-layer moisture offshore. Cloud cover will inhibit much warming during the day, along with ongoing showers and thunderstorms. Though modest midlevel lapse rates will reside over the region, surface-based destabilization is not expected and at least a weak low-level inversion is depicted in most forecast soundings. Nevertheless, minor elevated instability will support isolated to scattered thunderstorm activity. Some gusty winds may accompany thunderstorms given strong flow not far above the near-surface layer, but overall severe potential appears low given poor low-level thermodynamics. Across the western U.S., a persistent, broad upper trough will continue to impact the Pacific Northwest vicinity. Strong deep-layers westerly flow will maintain a deep moist layer. Cold temperature aloft will also result in steep lapse rates and sufficient instability to support isolated thunderstorms in orographic ascent along the WA/OR coast and into northern CA. ..Leitman.. 02/29/2024 Read more

SPC 0700Z Day 2 Outlook
Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1236 AM CST Thu Feb 29 2024 Valid 011200Z - 021200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Severe thunderstorms are not expected on Friday. ...Synopsis... A weak upper shortwave trough will migrate from the Lower MS Valley toward the Mid-Atlantic vicinity on Friday. Only very weak surface low development may occur near or just offshore the central Gulf Coast in response to the upper wave. Most forecast guidance keeps any deeper boundary-layer moisture offshore. Cloud cover will inhibit much warming during the day, along with ongoing showers and thunderstorms. Though modest midlevel lapse rates will reside over the region, surface-based destabilization is not expected and at least a weak low-level inversion is depicted in most forecast soundings. Nevertheless, minor elevated instability will support isolated to scattered thunderstorm activity. Some gusty winds may accompany thunderstorms given strong flow not far above the near-surface layer, but overall severe potential appears low given poor low-level thermodynamics. Across the western U.S., a persistent, broad upper trough will continue to impact the Pacific Northwest vicinity. Strong deep-layers westerly flow will maintain a deep moist layer. Cold temperature aloft will also result in steep lapse rates and sufficient instability to support isolated thunderstorms in orographic ascent along the WA/OR coast and into northern CA. ..Leitman.. 02/29/2024 Read more