Fire Weather Outlook Discussion
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588
FNUS28 KWNS 302125
FWDD38

Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0423 PM CDT Wed Sep 30 2026

Valid 021200Z - 081200Z

...Synopsis...
A southward progressing cold front will push into the Ohio River
Valley and Southern Plains by Day 3/Friday as an increasingly
diffuse mid-level trough lingers over the Southern Plains. The cold
front will meet an air mass infused with anomalously high
atmospheric moisture leading to wetting rains across parts of the
Ohio River Valley and the Southeast. This should result in a
contraction of receptive fuels and reduced fire weather concerns for
the Ohio River Valley and Mid-South.

Forecast confidence remains high in the overall upper-level pattern
evolution with a broad ridge gradually building across the western
U.S. well into next week. Model guidance consensus still indicates a
weak upper wave/low pushing into northern California and Oregon on
Day 5/Sunday. However, limited moisture and instability in addition
to marginally dry fuels should suppress dry thunderstorm potential
and impacts in northern California Sunday. Otherwise, the primary
effect of the ridge will be above normal temperatures and dry
conditions with resulting drying fuels. Mid/upper troughing and
associated enhanced winds could return to the western U.S. by late
next week (beyond Day 8/Wednesday), potentially ushering in broader
fire weather concerns into areas where multiple days of warm and dry
conditions will have preconditioned the fuelscape.

..Williams.. 09/30/2026

...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product...

$$