Fire Weather Outlook Discussion
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FNUS21 KWNS 250615
FWDDY1

Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0114 AM CDT Thu Apr 25 2024

Valid 251200Z - 261200Z

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS AND
SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO...

...Synopsis...
A midlevel trough will track eastward across the Southwest, while an
accompanying 60-70-kt midlevel southwesterly jet overspreads
southern NM and the southern High Plains. This will promote rapid
deepening of a lee cyclone over eastern CO, while a
southward-extending dryline sharpens over west TX. This large-scale
pattern evolution will yield an expansive area of critical
fire-weather conditions across the aforementioned areas, with
high-end critical conditions expected over eastern NM.

...Southern New Mexico and the Southern High Plains...
Behind the sharpening dryline, strong downslope warming/drying and
diurnal heating will contribute to a deep/dry boundary layer,
characterized by surface temperatures in the mid/upper 80s and
single-digit to lower-teens RH. Here, a tightening surface pressure
gradient peripheral to the deepening lee cyclone, and mixing into
the strong flow aloft, will support 25-35 mph sustained
southwesterly surface winds (with gusts upwards of 45 mph). These
conditions will yield an expansive area of high-end critical
fire-weather conditions, given modestly receptive fuels.

The overlap of strongest winds and lowest relative humidity is
expected over eastern NM, where extremely critical meteorological
conditions are likely. However, a lack of abundant and very dry
fuels over the area precludes such highlights at this time.

..Weinman.. 04/25/2024

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

$$
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