Fire Weather Outlook Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
725 FNUS21 KWNS 210659 FWDDY1 Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0158 AM CDT Fri Aug 21 2026 Valid 211200Z - 221200Z ...Synopsis... Along the northwestern periphery of an expansive upper ridge over the West, a midlevel low will track slowly northeastward off the Pacific Northwest coast. Accompanying this feature, a belt of enhanced deep-layer south-southwesterly flow will overspread parts of the central and northern Great Basin. Deep boundary-layer mixing amid this enhanced flow aloft will yield 15-20 percent RH and around 15 mph sustained south-southwesterly surface winds across parts of northeast CA, northwest NV, and southern OR. These dry/breezy conditions atop dry fuels will result in elevated fire-weather conditions during the afternoon. Farther north, midlevel height falls/forcing for ascent preceding the midlevel low will gradually overspread parts of the Pacific Northwest late in the forecast period (generally after 06Z). Ample midlevel moisture and steepening midlevel lapse rates will contribute to sufficient instability for isolated thunderstorm development during this time frame, and given receptive fuels, lightning-induced ignitions will be a concern. Isolated high-based thunderstorms will also be possible along the Cascades in OR during the afternoon, though limited large-scale forcing for ascent casts uncertainty on overall storm coverage compared to areas farther north late in the period. ..Weinman.. 08/21/2026 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... $$