Fire Weather Outlook Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
365 FNUS21 KWNS 151629 FWDDY1 Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1129 AM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026 Valid 151700Z - 161200Z No changes were made to the existing Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook. See previous forecast discussion for details. ..Williams.. 09/15/2026 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1258 AM CDT Tue Sep 15 2026/ ...Synopsis... A shortwave trough will enter the Pacific Northwest today, bringing slightly cooler temperatures and chances of light precipitation to the Cascades and adjacent terrain. Ahead of the trough, dry southwesterly flow will accelerate over the Great Basin and rejuvenate fire weather concerns where fuels are growing more receptive in central-eastern Nevada. High pressure will continue to expand over the Southeast and into the central U.S. as surface troughing promotes hot, dry, and windy conditions in northwest Texas and southwestern Oklahoma. ...Southern Plains... A strong low-level jet supportive of 30-40 mph wind gusts early this morning (diminishing after 17z) may exacerbate established fires within the landscape. A cold front will slowly progress southward through western Kansas, eventually stalling in northwest Oklahoma this afternoon. Compressional heating ahead of the cold front will promote high temperatures of 100 degrees or greater across the region. Southerly sustained winds of 10-15 mph and RH values of 15-25% will support another day of Elevated fire weather conditions within a drought stressed environment. In addition, sufficient boundary layer mixing will support increased buoyancy along the front, generating scattered thunderstorms across northwestern Oklahoma this afternoon. Lightning-induced ignitions on the periphery of accumulating precipitation are a concern, alongside locally strong/erratic outflow winds (see the Day 1 Convective Outlook for details). ...Central-eastern Nevada... Dry and breezy conditions southeast of an upper-level trough across the Pacific Northwest will affect portions of the Great Basin. An Elevated fire weather threat exists this afternoon where southwest winds of 15-20 mph and RH as low as 10% will combine atop drying fuels. ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... $$