Fire Weather Outlook Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
920 FNUS21 KWNS 220502 FWDDY1 Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1201 AM CDT Wed Jul 22 2026 Valid 221200Z - 231200Z ...Synopsis... Upper-level troughing will remain in place across the eastern U.S. as a southward progressing cold front promotes widespread chances of rainfall along the Eastern Seaboard today. Meanwhile, tropical remnants will continue to translate northward along the western periphery of a large-scale ridge across the western CONUS. As high pressure shifts towards the Four Corners, additional monsoonal moisture will advect into the Pacific Northwest. A mix of wet/dry thunderstorms are expected across the IsoDryT area, with overall coverage likely exceeding 50% across central/southern Oregon--perhaps approaching 80% in central Oregon. PWAT values are expected to approach 0.9-1.3" amid southerly flow induced training of storms, indicating wetting rain is likely across portions of the area. However, given a drought-stressed fuelscape and numerous ongoing wildfires, lightning-induced ignitions will remain a concern on the periphery of heavier precipitation. The lightning threat will then shift northward into southwestern WA through the evening and overnight hours. Forecast soundings depict dry sub-cloud layers up to 700 mb, ample instability (MUCAPE greater than 500 J/kg), and 15-25 kt storm motions. This meteorological setup greatly increases fire weather concerns as several days of dry and windy conditions are expected to follow, potentially impacting nascent wildfires born from thunderstorm activity. ..Elizalde-Garcia.. 07/22/2026 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... $$