Fire Weather Outlook Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
544 FNUS21 KWNS 080556 FWDDY1 Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1255 AM CDT Tue Sep 08 2026 Valid 081200Z - 091200Z ...Synopsis... A trailing upper-level wave and associated stronger mid-level flow will move into the Northern Rockies and northern High Plains through today as another upper trough accelerates eastward into the Great Lakes. At the surface, a cold front extending southwestward from a deep low pressure in Manitoba Canada will push through the Northern Plains. As a result, the tighter pressure gradient across the northern High Plains will bolster westerly surface winds over much of northern/eastern WY as well as portions of southwestern SD, the NE Panhandle and southeastern MT. These winds along with a dry air mass augmented by downslope trajectories will support an elevated fire weather threat today. ...Southeastern Montana into northern/eastern Wyoming and the Black Hills vicinity... A 50-60 knot mid-level jet at the base of an approaching short wave will overspread much of southeastern MT, eastern WY and adjacent northern Plains later today as westerly winds at the surface are aided by a lingering modest pressure gradient. Minimum daytime RH of 10-20% will be concentrated in central/northeastern WY with late day cloud cover infiltrating into southern MT ahead of an advancing secondary cold front, limiting RH reductions along and north of the MT/WY border. Although temperatures will be a few degrees cooler than Monday, the deep layer west-southwest flow and well-mixed boundary layer should still promote west winds of 15-20 mph by mid-afternoon. These winds and low RH coincident with dry fuels will support elevated fire weather concerns across southeastern Montana, northern/eastern Wyoming and the Black Hills areas. The daytime westerly winds along with an early/late evening northwest wind shift could also impact active wildfires within this region. ..Williams.. 09/08/2026 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... $$