270
FNUS21 KWNS 220700
FWDDY1

Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0200 AM CDT Sat Aug 22 2026

Valid 221200Z - 231200Z

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR MUCH OF NORTHERN WASHINGTON AND
THE FAR NORTHERN IDAHO PANHANDLE...
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PORTIONS OF
SOUTH-CENTRAL/SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON AND FAR NORTH-CENTRAL OREGON...
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST
CALIFORNIA...NORTHWEST NEVADA...AND SOUTH-CENTRAL/SOUTHEAST
OREGON...

...Synopsis...
Along the northwestern periphery of an expansive upper ridge
centered on the central/southern Rockies, a robust midlevel trough
and accompanying south-southwesterly jet streak will overspread the
Northwest through the period.

...Dry Thunderstorms - Northern Intermountain West and northern
Rockies...
The 00Z observed soundings across parts of the central Great Basin
show ample midlevel moisture, which will continue spreading
northward across the northern Intermountain West and northern
Rockies today. Diurnal heating/boundary-layer mixing beneath the
moist plume will yield a broad area of weak instability by this
afternoon -- characterized by inverted-V thermodynamic profiles. As
midlevel height falls/forcing for ascent preceding the midlevel
trough overspread this instability, isolated to scattered
fast-moving thunderstorms will track northward across the region
this afternoon and evening.

The greatest coverage of high-based storms is expected across parts
of northern WA into the northern ID Panhandle, where forcing for
ascent will be strongest. While a mix of wet/dry storms is possible,
the fast storm motions and dry boundary layer should limit rainfall
amounts. Given very receptive fuels, the risk of lightning-induced
ignitions will be maximized here. Additionally, enhanced deep-layer
wind shear related to the upper-level jet will promote some
strong-severe storm clusters, capable of producing severe wind gusts
and hail. See the SPC Day 1 Convective Outlook for more details on
the severe risk.

...Dry/Windy Conditions - Northern/Central Intermountain West...
The strong deep-layer south-southwesterly flow accompanying the
midlevel trough will result in strong downslope flow off the
Cascades and northern Sierra. This will result in a broad area of
15-20 percent afternoon RH and 15-25 mph sustained
west-southwesterly surface winds. The strongest winds are expected
within terrain-favored areas, such as the Columbia Basin and in the
lee of the southern Cascades -- where dry/receptive fuels will
support critical fire-weather conditions during the afternoon.

..Weinman.. 08/22/2026

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

$$