SPC Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0308 PM CST Wed Feb 26 2025
Valid 281200Z - 061200Z
Fire weather concerns are expected to increase through the extended
period with nearly daily potential for critical fire weather
conditions across the Southwest/southern High Plains beginning
D4/Saturday and persisting to D7/Tuesday. Agreement among long-range
guidance continues to improve with most solutions showing a
breakdown of the upper ridge currently over the western CONUS.
GOES-18 water-vapor imagery shows multiple upper-level troughs
migrating across/into the northeast Pacific, which will be
responsible for increasing fire weather potential beginning later
this week.
...D3/Friday - Central Plains...
An upper trough currently moving into southwest Canada is forecast
to rapidly propagate southeastward into the northern Plains as it
rounds the apex of the upper ridge late D2/Thur into D3/Fri. Robust
surface cylcogenesis is expected across the upper MS River Valley as
this occurs with an attendant increase in gradient winds across the
Plains. Medium to long-range ensembles show a strong signal for 20+
mph winds behind a dry cold front across much of the Dakotas, NE,
IA, and MN. 30-day precipitation totals are currently sitting at
5-25% of normal across much of NE and SD, and local offices report
fine fuels are supportive of fire spread. As such, a wind-driven
fire weather threat is probable across central/eastern SD/NE into
far western portions of MN and IA.
...D4/Sat to D7/Tue - Southwest/Southern High Plains...
Precipitation has been minimal across the southern High Plains and
Southwest over the past week with 30-day rainfall deficits on the
order of 2-25% of normal for most locations. This lack of rainfall,
combined with above-normal temperatures, has resulted in ERCs in the
75-90th percentile across eastern NM and southwest TX. With a
conducive fuel environment already in place, fire weather potential
will increase as a series of shortwave troughs move into the region
this weekend into early next week. The first upper wave, currently
off the CA coast, is forecast to move into AZ/NM by D4/Sat before
migrating east into the southern Plains D5/Sun. Strengthening
surface winds in the vicinity of an attendant surface low are
expected to increase to 15-25 mph based on recent ensemble guidance.
With no appreciable increase in moisture expected, critical RH
values are likely and will support elevated to critical fire weather
conditions.
A second, more robust, upper trough is anticipated across the
Southwest/southern Plains during the D6/Mon to D7/Tue period.
Similar to the preceding days, strengthening winds attendant to a
deepening surface low will promote widespread strong winds with most
ensemble systems showing a strong signal for 20+ mph winds and some
members, including the 12z deterministic GFS, showing potential for
sustained 30 mph winds. While confidence in exact wind speeds is
somewhat uncertain at this range, the overall signal for dry, windy
conditions over dry fuels warrants risk probabilities for each day.
Forecast uncertainties exist for each day of the D4/Sat to D7/Tue
period. Where the lows begin to develop and track will have
implications for the coverage of elevated/critical fire weather
conditions, with recent GFS/GEFS runs showing stronger surface lows
and more widespread coverage of critical conditions into the TX/OK
Panhandles and western OK. Additionally, ECMWF/ECENS solutions hint
at rain chances across parts of northwest TX/western OK over the
weekend, which could limit fuel availability for early next week.
Due to these uncertainties, higher risk probabilities are withheld,
but further forecast refinements are expected as guidance comes into
better agreement regarding these details.
..Moore.. 02/26/2025
...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product...
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