Payette Prescribed Fire - Fall 2022 (Prescribed Fire)

2 years 10 months ago
The Payette National Forest will be conducting multiple prescribed fires this fall that may take place anytime from late September to early November when the right weather conditions exist to ensure the safety of the burns and to accomplish resource objectives.The decision to ignite a prescribed fire depends on favorable weather conditions and the need to reduce smoke effects as much as possible.  While smoke from prescribed fires is much less than that from a typical wildfire, if smoke concentrations approach air quality standards ignition will be delayed until air quality improves.  While smoke from prescribed fires usually dissipates within a few days, residual smoke may be visible for up to 2 weeks in some cases.Prescribed fire is an important forest management tool that helps us protect communities by reducing surface fuels, increasing the height of the tree canopy, reducing small tree densities, and promoting fire resilient tree species.The risk of high-severity wildfire fire...

Irrigation doubled operational cost for northwest Arkansas farmer

2 years 11 months ago
A farmer near Fayetteville irrigated more heavily to keep his fruits and pumpkins alive this year during drought. The increased irrigation doubled his operational costs, and he could bear only so much of it and had to put some of the price increase on customers. He was grateful that his customers were willing to pay higher prices for his produce. Some larger farms could not pay for the extra water and opted to use their corn crop for cattle feed instead. KNWA-TV & FOX 24 (Fayetteville, Ark.), Oct 12, 2022

Hay thefts occurring in southeast Missouri

2 years 11 months ago
Drought continues to affect farmers in southeast Missouri as hay thefts take place. Some farmers have set up trail cameras to monitor their valuable hay as prices for it rise and supplies are not abundant. Springs were running dry that did not go dry during the 2012 drought. New water lines have been installed to bring water to livestock. KAIT-TV ABC 8 Jonesboro (Ark.), Oct 11, 2022

Eastern North Pacific Tropical Weather Outlook

2 years 11 months ago

740
ABPZ20 KNHC 121750
TWOEP

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
1100 AM PDT Wed Oct 12 2022

For the eastern North Pacific...east of 140 degrees west longitude:

Near the coast of Southern Mexico:
A small area of low pressure located near the coast of southern
Mexico is producing limited shower and thunderstorm activity. Any
development of this system over the next few days is likely to be
slow to occur due to unfavorable upper-level winds and proximity
to land. The system is forecast to move west-northwestward to
westward near the southern coast of Mexico during the next few
days.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...10 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...low...20 percent.

$$
Forecaster Brown

NHC Webmaster

SPC Oct 12, 2022 1730 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook

2 years 11 months ago
SPC 1730Z Day 2 Outlook
Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1214 PM CDT Wed Oct 12 2022 Valid 131200Z - 141200Z ...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM SOUTHEAST NEW YORK INTO NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA... ...SUMMARY... A band of relatively low-topped thunderstorms are forecast to move across portions of the eastern U.S. east of the Appalachians. A stronger afternoon storm or two may produce strong/gusty winds or a brief tornado from the Catskills vicinity southward across central Virginia. ...Synopsis... A seasonally strong upper low and attendant trough will be in place across western Ontario and extend southward across much of the central U.S. The upper trough will slowly pivot eastward toward the Appalachians during the period, bring strong mid/upper level southwesterly flow over the Northeast into the Mid-Atlantic. At the surface, low pressure over Ontario and the upper Great Lakes will pivot beneath the upper low. Meanwhile, a surface cold front will extend from western NY/PA into the central Appalachians and southwestward toward the central Gulf Coast vicinity. The front will progress eastward through the period, oriented from western New England, southward to the offshore waters of the Mid-Atlantic/Carolinas coast before arcing westward across northern FL and into the Gulf of Mexico. A Marginal risk of severe storms is expected ahead of the front from parts of southern NY into eastern VA/NC. ...Portions of NY into VA/NC... Showers and thunderstorms will likely be ongoing along the cold front Thursday morning across western NY/PA into eastern OH, with additional precipitation occurring in the warm advection regime from eastern PA toward the Chesapeake/coastal VA/NC. Destabilization will be limited by precipitation and cloud cover, especially across NY/PA. However, strong deep-layer southwesterly flow will aid in the development of an organized line of low-topped convection along the cold front. A few strong gusts may accompany this line of storms. With southward extent into eastern VA and the Chesapeake Bay/northeast NC vicinity, stronger destabilization is expected where at least filtered heating amid 60s F dewpoints should result in 500-1000 J/kg MLCAPE. A mix of thunderstorm clusters and more discrete cells are possible across this area. Backed low-level flow and will contribute to enlarged, favorably curved low-level hodographs, and a few rotating storms are possible. Isolated strong gusts and/or a brief tornado will be possible with activity across southern portions of the Marginal risk area. ..Leitman.. 10/12/2022 Read more

SPC Oct 12, 2022 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

2 years 11 months ago
SPC 1630Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1148 AM CDT Wed Oct 12 2022 Valid 121630Z - 131200Z ...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE MID-SOUTH AND LOWER MISSISSIPPI/TENNESSEE VALLEYS... ...SUMMARY... Scattered severe thunderstorms producing a couple brief tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail are possible across parts of the Mid-South and the Lower Mississippi to Tennessee Valleys, mainly this afternoon and evening. ...Mid-South to Lower Mississippi/Tennessee Valleys... A band of storms are ongoing across northern Arkansas and far southeast Missouri at late morning ahead of/near an east/southeastward-moving cold front. Modest low-level moistening continues to occur (50s to lower 60s F surface dewpoints) immediately ahead of this convection across the Mid-South, with ample insolation also occurring within the warm sector. This should lead an increase in both coverage and intensity of storms through the afternoon. A QLCS should evolve from eastern Arkansas/northern Mississippi into Tennessee, with additional and somewhat more discrete development anticipated farther south/southwest toward the ArkLaTex. Damaging winds and large hail are expected to be the most common/probable hazards, but a couple of brief tornadoes might also occur. ...Kentucky/Ohio... Some clearing is noted in visible satellite imagery as of late morning across western/middle Tennessee into Kentucky, but uncertainties linger regarding the extent/degree of surface-based destabilization later today. Will maintain low severe probabilities across the region as even modest destabilization coupled with adequate low-level hodograph curvature could support a supercell or two capable of a brief tornado and/or locally damaging winds. ...Southeast including Alabama/southern Georgia... Persistent warm advection in conjunction with an effective/850 mb west-east front will likely maintain slow-eastward-progressive scattered thunderstorms into the afternoon and evening. Diurnal heating and some thinning of cloud cover could allow some of these storms to become more surface based this afternoon, with locally damaging winds a possibility aside from severe hail. ..Guyer/Wendt.. 10/12/2022 Read more

SPC Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook

2 years 11 months ago
SPC Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1149 AM CDT Wed Oct 12 2022 Valid 121700Z - 131200Z ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS... Minor adjustments were made with the forecast remaining largely on track. The Critical risk area was expanded into south-central South Dakota where low relative humidity and strong winds will likely lead to more active fire behavior in ongoing fires. Surface observations show sustained winds of 20+ mph and gusts up to 45 mph across portions of the Dakotas. Expect warming and drying through the day, as mid-level cloud cover decreases and boundary-layer deepening/mixing allows relative humidity to decrease to around 20-25 percent. VWP profiles show 50+ mph winds above the surface, which will likely lead to a further increase in the winds as the boundary layer deepens through the afternoon. The Elevated risk was extended southward into Kansas to account for areas where relative humidity may approach 20-25 percent with sustained winds at 15-20 mph. Further east, similar conditions will occur, but rainfall in the last 24 hours may have made fuels less receptive. See the previous discussion for more details. ..Thornton/Weinman.. 10/12/2022 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0157 AM CDT Wed Oct 12 2022/ ...Synopsis... Very strong northwesterly flow will overspread the northern Plains today as a mid-level trough amplifies. Beneath the strongest mid-level jet streak, winds of 30 to 35 mph are expected at the surface. Relative humidity will drop into the upper teens from far northeast Montana across western North Dakota and into northern South Dakota. Elsewhere, relative humidity will likely be too high to warrant a critical delineation. Farther south, across central and eastern Nebraska, some critical conditions may also develop. However, Tuesday night thunderstorms brought some rainfall to this region and therefore, fuels will likely not be as receptive. ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

Horse Fire (Wildfire)

2 years 11 months ago
The Horse fire located approximately 5½ miles northwest of Corn Creek on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  It was reported on September 8, 2022, at 1306 MDT. The fire is burning in lodgepole, fir, and snags.  The fire is being managed under a point protection strategy.  Fire managers are assessing values at risk in the vicinity of the fire and are establishing management action points to trigger specified actions to protect those values. 

Wolf Fang Fire (Wildfire)

2 years 11 months ago
The lightning fire is located approximately four (4) miles northeast of the confluence of Big Creek and the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness on the North Fork Ranger District. The fire is burning in spruce and fir is located in steep, rugged terrain.Risk to responders and public safety are the top priorities for the Wolf Fang Fire. Due to the inaccessibility of the terrain and snag hazards, a combination of the Middle Fork Peak lookout, a remote camera, and aviation are assessing the fire daily.

Kansas winter wheat growers plant in dry soil

2 years 11 months ago
Kansas wheat growers were planting into dry soil. In the USDA’s Small Grains 2022 Summary released on September 30, USDA slashed Kansas wheat production to 244.2 million bushels, compared with 364 million bushels in 2021. Due to the persistent drought, USDA reported 700,000 acres were planted to wheat, but not harvested, and yields fell to an average of 37 bushels per acre, well below 52 bushels per acre in 2021 and 45 bushels per acre in 2020. Kansas Wheat (Manhattan, Kan.), Oct 12, 2022 The difficult choice for Kansas winter wheat growers: wait for moisture or plant into very dry soil and hope for rain? About 50% of Kansas wheat has been planted, per the Kansas Farm Bureau. But, due to drought, only 19% of the wheat has emerged. And if a late crop manages to survive a cold winter, the yield can be reduced by up to 35%. KAKE ABC 10 Wichita (Kan.), Oct 11, 2022

Water main breaks in Rogers County, Oklahoma

2 years 11 months ago
Extremely dry weather caused water mains to break in Rogers County. Mechanical issues at the water treatment plant and breaks in two different waterlines left some customers with low water pressure and others with no water at all. Water conservation is urged. KOTV-TV CBS 6 Tulsa (Okla.), Oct 11, 2022

Burn bans in southern Indiana, Kentucky

2 years 11 months ago
The lack of rain led several Kentucky and southern Indiana counties to issue burn bans to avoid more fire activity and the spread of fires. Washington, Scott and Clark counties in southern Indiana were under burn bans, while 15 western counties had burn bans, according to KY.gov. WDRB Louisville (Ky.) Oct 11, 2022

Eastern North Pacific Tropical Weather Outlook

2 years 11 months ago

000
ABPZ20 KNHC 111741
TWOEP

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
1100 AM PDT Tue Oct 11 2022

For the eastern North Pacific...east of 140 degrees west longitude:

Near the coast of Southern Mexico:
Disorganized showers and thunderstorms extending from near the Gulf
of Tehuantepec southwestward for a few hundred miles are associated
with a surface trough and Julia's remnants. Development, if any,
of this system is likely to be slow to occur due to dry air aloft
and marginal upper-level winds. This system is forecast to move
westward to west-northwestward, near the coast of southern Mexico,
through the end of the week. Regardless of development, heavy
rainfall could cause flash flooding across portions of southern
Mexico during the next day or so.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...low...20 percent.

$$
Forecaster Blake
NHC Webmaster

SPC Oct 11, 2022 1730 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook

2 years 11 months ago
SPC 1730Z Day 2 Outlook
Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1227 PM CDT Tue Oct 11 2022 Valid 121200Z - 131200Z ...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM THE LOWER MS VALLEY TO THE TN AND OH VALLEYS VICINITY... ...SUMMARY... Thunderstorms, a few of which may produce strong/gusty winds and marginal hail, are expected Wednesday across parts of the Ohio/Mid and Lower Mississippi/Tennessee Valleys, and westward to the Arklatex region. ...Synopsis... A large-scale upper trough will develop eastward from the Plains on Wednesday morning, becoming oriented from the Upper Midwest to the Southeast by Thursday morning. Enhanced southwesterly flow ahead of the trough will overspread much of the Midwest, and decreasing with southward extent into the southern U.S. At the surface, a cold front extending from WI southwestward into western OK/northwest TX will sweep eastward during the forecast period. By Thursday morning, the front is expected to extend from western NY/PA toward Middle TN, southwestward toward the TX coast. ...Middle TN into the OH Valley Vicinity... Stronger vertical shear will be in place across the region, closer to the core of the upper trough and within the stronger surface pressure gradient associated with a low over Ontario. South/southwesterly low-level flow will bring a narrow corridor of upper 50s and 60s F surface dewpoints northward ahead of the eastward-advancing cold front. Heating will be limited by cloud cover and possibly early day showers. However, cooling aloft will support modestly steep midlevel lapse rates, and MLCAPE of a few hundred J/kg will be possible amid 30+ kt effective shear magnitudes. Transient supercells and briefly organized clusters could produce isolated strong storms capable of hail and strong gusts. Low-level instability will be limited, but enlarged, favorably curved surface-3 km hodographs suggest a brief tornado also could occur. ...AR into western TN/northern MS Vicinity... Additional thunderstorms are expected to develop along the front during the afternoon across AR and shift east/southeast into western TN and northern MS. Some guidance suggest an increase in hail and strong gust potential will accompany these cells. Stronger heating is expected along this corridor ahead of the front, resulting in steeper low-level lapse rates, while cooling aloft associated with the main upper trough supports steepening mid-level lapse rates. Effective shear magnitudes around 25-35 kt and favorable hodographs suggest some rotating cells will be possible. A narrow corridor of relative greater severe potential may exist within this corridor and an upgrade to Slight risk may be needed in subsequent outlooks if forecast confidence increases. ...Southern MS/AL... A lead shortwave impulse is expected to move across MS/AL during the morning/early afternoon. Scattered thunderstorms are expected in this pre-frontal warm advection regime. However, low-level thermodynamics appear weak given limited heating. Midlevel temperatures also are only forecast to be around -8 to -10 C, resulting in poor midlevel lapse rates. Effective shear magnitudes around 20-30 kt, and somewhat elongated hodographs could result in some briefly organized cells within morning thunderstorm clusters across parts of MS/AL and the FL Panhandle, though severe potential appears limited at this time. By the time the cold front moves into southern MS/AL during the evening/overnight, considerable mid/upper level drying is forecast and thunderstorms are not expected to be severe. ..Leitman.. 10/11/2022 Read more