Fire Weather Outlook Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
748 FNUS28 KWNS 192046 FWDD38 Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0345 PM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026 Valid 211200Z - 271200Z ...Discussion... Weak mid-level impulses embedded within zonal flow will promote precipitation chances from the Midwest to the Eastern Seaboard through early next week. A shallow cold front will expand from the southern Plains into the Mid-South on Day 3/Monday, slowly progressing southward through Day 4/Tuesday. Accompanying the front, near to slightly below average temperatures and increasing moisture will bring some temporary relief to the southern Plains fuelscape. Hot and mostly dry conditions will continue across the lower Mississippi Valley through next week, contributing to forecast ERCs approaching the 90-95th percentile beyond Day 5/Wednesday; but, prevailing light winds should suppress overall fire weather concerns. A weak mid-level trough will traverse the Desert Southwest on Days 3-4/Monday-Tuesday, bringing better moisture and thunderstorms to Nevada. Some mixed receptive fuels may reside across portions of eastern Nevada, though forecast ERCs range from the 50-70th percentile. Ensemble guidance is in general agreement for ridging to build over the central-western CONUS late in the workweek as an upper trough evolves across the Eastern Pacific and impinges upon the Northwest. The overall pattern indicates stronger southwest winds could return to the northern Great Basin and Pacific Northwest as early as Day 6/Thursday; however, an expected marginal fuelscape should limit a broader fire weather threat. ..Elizalde-Garcia.. 09/19/2026 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... $$