Fire Weather Outlook Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
785 FNUS22 KWNS 061917 FWDDY2 Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0216 PM CDT Sat Jun 06 2026 Valid 071200Z - 081200Z ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR THE SOUTHERN GREAT BASIN...SOUTHWEST...AND CENTRAL ROCKIES... ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR THE SNAKE RIVER PLAIN... An area of Isolated Dry Thunder was introduced over portions of central/northern UT and western WY on Day 2/Sunday near the previously mentioned frontal boundary. Isolated thunderstorm coverage amid a significant sub-cloud dry layer, combined with limited precipitable water near 1/2 inch, and quick storm motion near 25-35 kts over receptive fuels will lead to the threat of dry lightning ignitions in the morning hours and again by peak heating in the early/mid afternoon hours. Regarding the surface wind/RH threat, a few small changes were made. The Critical area was expanded over much of northeast AZ as the latest forecast guidance has trended toward strong winds over this region amid the hot and very low RHs. Keep in mind that should ignitions occur over this region, burn periods will continue to extend well into the overnight hours with RHs failing to rise above 20-30% in almost all drawn areas of the southern Great Basin and Southwest. The larger Elevated area was also expanded over much of the Mojave Desert as well as northern NM and across much of the Front Range of the central Rocky Mountains. With this expansion, there are high elevation portions of the central Rocky Mountains included that are may struggle to meet wind/RH criteria amid less critically dry fuel conditions. The targeted Elevated to Critical threat across portions of the Snake River Plain remains on track from previous forecast issuances. ..Stearns.. 06/06/2026 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0159 AM CDT Sat Jun 06 2026/ ...Synopsis... The upper-level low over the Northwest will advance towards the Northern Rockies, as a surface low intensifies over the northern Plains with the trailing cold front moving through the northern Great Basin. This will bolster surface winds across parts of the Southwest and central Rockies mid a very dry air mass. Elevated to critical fire-weather conditions are likely. ...Southern Great Basin and central Rockies... Beneath the stronger flow loft, gusty surface winds are again likely ahead of the cold front from southern NV, into UT, parts of western CO and southwestern WY. Aided by deep mixing and 30-40 kt of southwest flow aloft, afternoon surface winds of 20-30 mph are expected. Poor to nonexistent overnight humidity recoveries and afternoon minimums of 5 to 15 percent will exacerbate critical fuels across the Southern Rockies and Southwest. The combination of very dry air, strong winds and receptive fuels will favor several hours of widespread critical conditions Sunday afternoon. ...ID... Beneath the upper trough, continued strong southwesterly flow aloft will bolster surface winds through the Snake River Plains and southern ID. Gusty surface winds of 20-35 mph and RH of 10-20% will support several hours of elevated to critical fire-weather conditions Sunday. Gusty wind and low humidity may extend farther eastward into ID and far western WY, but here fuels here have received recent rainfall and are less receptive. ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... $$