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000
FNUS21 KWNS 240658
FWDDY1

Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0157 AM CDT Sat Oct 24 2020

Valid 241200Z - 251200Z

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PORTIONS OF COLORADO AND NORTHERN
NEW MEXICO...

...Synopsis...
A very strong wind event in portions of the Rockies and Great Basin
will continue today as mid-level troughing in the northern Rockies
contributes to very strong flow aloft across much of the West.
Strong surface cyclogenesis across Utah/Colorado and surface ridging
across Montana/Wyoming will also contribute to a strong surface
pressure gradient in much of the Rockies.

...Eastern Nevada though Colorado, New Mexico, and adjacent areas of
the Panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas...
Areas of 20-30 mph surface winds (increasing to 40+ in
terrain-favored areas) will develop over the course of the day in
much of the elevated area.  Fuels are dry in this region, which
continue to support the presence of several very large fires
especially in north-central Colorado.  By afternoon RH values will
lower into the 20-25% range areawide through peak heating and fall
into the 10-15% range across portions of south-central Colorado and
northeastern New Mexico.  The critical delineation exists in areas
most likely to experience <15% RH values for several hours during
the afternoon amidst the strong surface flow.

In north-central/central Colorado, RH values may not fall below 15%.
However, the presence of very dry fuels (record ERCs) and wind gusts
reaching 60 mph at times will promote rapid spread of already
impactful large fires in the region.  Thus, the critical delineation
has been expanded northwestward into those areas for the forecast
period.

..Cook.. 10/24/2020

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

$$