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On March 4, 2022, the Rest Stop Fire originated at the rest stop on I44, west of the town of Iowa Park, Texas. Iowa Park VFD requested assistance from Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) due to access issues. TAMFS dozers from Boomtown Task Force, along with Texas Intrastate Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) Strike Team, are on scene assisting with containment efforts. Elevated fire conditions, rough terrain, and heavy brush have contributed to the fire spreading rapidly. The fire is in Wildland Urban Interface, 4 structures were identified, 2 of those structures were directly saved by responders, but 1 outbuilding was lost in the fire.While there are no road closures or evacuation orders, it is discouraged for non-responders to drive around the area due to emergency vehicles in the area and low visibility from the smoke. TAMFS is working in unified command with local

No watches are valid as of Fri Mar 4 14:37:01 UTC 2022.

No Mesoscale Discussions are in effect as of Fri Mar 4 14:37:01 UTC 2022.

SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0659 AM CST Fri Mar 04 2022 Valid 041300Z - 051200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... A few thunderstorms are possible today across portions of the southwestern U.S. into Colorado. Isolated thunderstorms are also expected late tonight from Nebraska into Iowa and southern Minnesota. ...Southwest States/Four Corners... A lead shortwave trough and related speed max over southern California this morning will eject northeastward and reach the Four Corners area this evening and the central High Plains late tonight. Along and north of this jet, cooling mid-level temperatures and steep lapse rates will contribute to weak buoyancy. This likely will be adequate for isolated semi-dry, high-based convection. While convection may struggle to produce appreciable precipitation, gusty winds could accompany some of this convection, especially during the afternoon across east/southeast Utah into western Colorado. While some stronger thunderstorm-related winds could materialize, the potential for severe-caliber thunderstorm-related gusts is currently expected to remain low. ...Central Plains/Upper Midwest... Late tonight, in tandem with weak height falls, an increasingly strong south-southwesterly low-level jet will develop across the central/southern Plains toward the upper Mississippi Valley. Elevated moisture transport will contribute to thermodynamic profiles that are increasingly conducive for thunderstorms, particularly across eastern Nebraska into Iowa and southern Minnesota (mainly 10 pm CST onward). While a few stronger thunderstorm updraft cores with hail may materialize late tonight, current expectations are for hail magnitudes to remain below severe levels given modest elevated buoyancy and an expected flow weakness in the lower part (650-800mb) of the cloud-bearing layer. ..Guyer/Dean.. 03/04/2022 Read more

A rare March wildfire in Pueblo County has blackened 230 acres. Ninety-one percent of Colorado is in drought and the snowpack was at 92% of the median to date. Out There Colorado (Colorado Springs), March 3, 2022

Since the start of 2022, 16 domestic wells in the Klamath Basin have run dry, which clearly does not bode well for the summer. Associated Press News (New York), March 2, 2022

Water and climate experts from Oregon, Washington and Idaho announced at a news conference hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that parts of the region should prepare for a summer of severe drought, wildfires and historically low stream flows. Seventy-four percent of the Pacific Northwest is in drought with nearly 20% in extreme or exceptional drought. Oregon is expected to be hard hit as winter storms missed the state, leaving central and southern Oregon and southern Idaho in drought and without good snowpack. Most reservoirs in Oregon are 10% to 30% lower than they were at this time in 2021, with some at historic lows, meaning little water for crop irrigation. Associated Press News (New York), March 2, 2022

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide drought emergency in California and urged more water conservation. “As the western U.S. faces a potential third year of drought, it’s critical that Californians across the state redouble our efforts to save water in every way possible,” the governor said. Fifty of the Golden State’s 58 counties have been in a state of drought emergency since July, and Gov. Newsom added the eight remaining counties and reiterated his call for water conservation of 15%. The State Water Resources Control Board is also free to adopt emergency regulations to forbid wasting water. State water officials announced that Californians had conserved just 5% of their water use in August, which was an improvement over July when water conservation amounted to 1.8%. Some parts of the state were conserving better than others. Local water suppliers must implement their water shortage contingency plans at “a level appropriate to local conditions that takes into account the possibility of a third consecutive dry year.” During the previous drought, Gov. Jerry Brown mandated water conservation of 25% in urban water use. Los Angeles Times (Calif.), Oct 19, 2021

Firefighters have responded to the Oak Mott Fire located three miles north of Raymondville on the east side of HWY 77. Texas A&M Forest Service is on scene in unified command with local departments. The fire was actively burning. Numerous local fire departments are on scene engaged suppression support. Texas A&M Forest Service heavy equipment as well as privately owned heavy equipment will assist ground resources in constructing containment line. Aerial resources were also requested. A Type 1 Helicopter performed water drops on the head of the fire to slow fire progression. An Air Attack (AA) was also on scene to provide aerial support and surveillance.  A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) has been

No Mesoscale Discussions are in effect as of Thu Mar 3 14:43:01 UTC 2022.

No watches are valid as of Thu Mar 3 14:43:01 UTC 2022.

SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0640 AM CST Thu Mar 03 2022 Valid 031300Z - 041200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Isolated thunderstorms are expected across portions of southern California tonight. ...Southern California... Strong mid-level height falls (150m in 12hr) will overspread southern California and the Southwest Deserts tonight in advance of a southern-stream trough that will reach the SoCal coast early Friday morning. Increasing forcing for ascent and steepening low/mid-level lapse rates, along with a steady influx of low-level moisture, will be favorable for isolated thunderstorms tonight, initially offshore but subsequently into the coastal areas of SoCal. A couple hundred J/kg of SBCAPE could support some stronger/sustained low-topped thunderstorms late tonight/early Friday (09z-12z), potentially a few with weak/transient supercell characteristics owing to modest low-level hodograph curvature. Some gustier convectively related winds could materialize, but severe-caliber storms currently seem unlikely. ..Guyer/Leitman.. 03/03/2022 Read more

West Central Texas benefited from scattered showers, but all areas needed more rainfall. Wheat was germinating, but this will likely have a negative impact on overall grain production, as late-germinating wheat may not vernalize. Fields were being prepared for spring planting but moisture will be needed before seed goes in the ground. Livestock were being fed and hayed to maintain body condition. AgriLife (College Station, Texas), March 2, 2022 Some beneficial rain fell in the past two weeks in West Central Texas. Forages were extremely dry and very few winter annuals were present. Wildfire outbreaks occurred. Supplemental feeding of livestock remained heavy. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 24, 2022 Conditions were still extremely dry in West Central Texas, despite some winter mix of precipitation. Even with the recent moisture, fire danger remained high. Moisture and warm weather were needed for grazing. Winter wheat was very poor. Stock tank levels were reaching critical levels. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 15, 2022 Dryland wheat in West Central Texas was in a terrible state due to dry conditions. Heavy livestock feeding took place due to lack of green in pastures. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 8, 2022 Conditions in West Central Texas remained very dry. The little wheat had emerged began to die out due to wind, drought and cold temperatures. Rangeland and pastures were in poor to fair condition. Most livestock producers began to feed relatively heavily. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 1, 2022 West Central Texas is extremely dry. Severe drought conditions continued, and a few small fires were reported, but damage was minimal. Winter wheat was in very poor shape. Small grains were dying due to lack of soil moisture. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Jan 25, 2022

No Mesoscale Discussions are in effect as of Wed Mar 2 14:44:02 UTC 2022.

No watches are valid as of Wed Mar 2 14:44:02 UTC 2022.

SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0654 AM CST Wed Mar 02 2022 Valid 021300Z - 031200Z ...NO THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Thunderstorms are not forecast across the United States today or tonight. ...Synopsis/Discussion... The continued prevalence of dry/stable conditions across the Lower 48 will continue to result in an essentially nil thunderstorm potential today and tonight. The only conceivable potential for a lightning flash or two would be across northwest Washington in association with a shortwave trough approaching the British Columbia/Washington coasts. However, current expectations are for the shallow convection-related thermodynamic profiles to remain too marginal for a meaningful chance (10+ percent) and duration/coverage of thunderstorms. ..Guyer/Leitman.. 03/02/2022 Read more

Open burning was prohibited in Plymouth County on March 1 by state officials. The ban will remain until conditions improve and open burning does not pose such a danger. KTIV-TV NBC 4 (Sioux City, Iowa), March 1, 2022

The Barton County Commission reimposed a burn ban on Feb. 23 due to dry, windy conditions in the county after numerous rural grass fires in the three weeks since the previous burn ban ended. Great Bend Tribune (Kan.), Feb 23, 2022