848
FNUS22 KWNS 231940
FWDDY2

Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0239 PM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

Valid 241200Z - 251200Z

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR NORTHEASTERN
CALIFORNIA...NORTHWESTERN NEVADA...AND SOUTH-CENTRAL/SOUTHEASTERN
OREGON...

The Elevated area was expanded into portions of central Montana as
gusty westerly winds are expected to overlap lowering RH for several
hours. Elevated conditions are likely to continue across portions of
the Critical area/vicinity overnight, with longer duration elevated
to locally critical conditions expected in northern Montana during
the afternoon and evening. Otherwise, the forecast remains on track,
and please see the previous discussion for more details.

..Nauslar.. 07/23/2026

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1225 AM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026/

...Synopsis...
Upper-level ridging will begin to transition towards the central
U.S. as eastern Pacific troughing approaches the Pacific Northwest.
Meanwhile, troughing will persist across the eastern U.S. with
several embedded shortwaves providing unsettled conditions in the
Midwest and portions of the Southeast.

Enhanced southwesterly flow will overspread the Pacific Northwest,
Northern Rockies, and the Montana Plains on Day 2/Friday, bringing
hot, dry, and windy conditions to a mostly dry fuelscape. With
preceding days of mixed wet/dry thunderstorms and abundant lightning
being followed by such meteorological conditions, holdover ignitions
are likely to emerge. Daytime RH values of less than 20% are
expected to combine with southwest-westerly sustained winds of 15-20
mph, warranting Elevated highlights. While some pockets of heavier
rainfall from prior days thunderstorms may alleviate localized fuel
concerns, the expansive environment is approaching, or has already
reached, critical fuel thresholds. A Critical risk area was
introduced across northeastern California, northwestern Nevada, and
south-central/southeastern Oregon where 15-25 mph southwesterly
winds and less than 15% RH will overlap 80-90th percentile ERCs.
Critical winds/RH are likely to develop across portions of
north-central and northeast Montana as well, but these conditions
will likely act as more of a curing event.

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

$$