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FNUS22 KWNS 261954

FWDDY2



Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook  

NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK

0254 PM CDT Thu Mar 26 2026



Valid 271200Z - 281200Z



...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PARTS OF WESTERN OK...THE EASTERN

TX/OK PANHANDLES...AND FAR SOUTH-CENTRAL KS...



A Critical area was added for parts of western OK into the eastern

half of the TX Panhandle and vicinity. Despite relatively cooler

post-frontal temperatures and the potential for marginal RH (around

20-25 percent), 20-25 mph sustained north-northeasterly surface

winds (with higher gusts) will still promote critical fire-weather

conditions, given receptive fuels and limited forecast rainfall

during the morning. Farther north across the central Plains, locally

critical conditions are expected within the broad Elevated risk

area. However, confidence in an overlap of the stronger winds and

low RH is too low for an additional Critical area at this time. 



Elevated highlights were added over portions of southwestern NM and

southeastern AZ, where dry/breezy conditions are expected in the

wake of a backdoor cold front. The latest high-resolution guidance

is in good agreement, depicting a narrow/focused corridor of 15-20

mph sustained southeasterly surface winds and around 20 percent RH

during the afternoon. These dry/breezy conditions atop receptive

fuels will promote a few hours of elevated fire-weather conditions.



For additional details, see the previous discussion below.



..Weinman.. 03/26/2026



.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0235 AM CDT Thu Mar 26 2026/



...Synopsis...

Upper-level ridging centered over northern Mexico and West Texas

will remain in place through D2/Friday as a mid-level shortwave

trough advances southeastward across the Great Lakes region and into

the Northeast. At the surface, a cold front will move offshore of

the Gulf Coast while strong high pressure shifts southeastward from

the northern Great Plains into the Midwest.



...Central Great Plains...

Broad post-frontal flow from the north-northeast amid a dry air mass

will encompass portions of the central/southern Great Plains on

Friday. Sustained surface winds of 15-20 mph coupled with reduced RH

values of 20-25% (locally as low as 15%) and receptive fuels are

expected to support a broad area of elevated to locally critical

fire weather concerns from eastern Nebraska and southwestern Iowa

southward to western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. Strong 850 mb

flow of 30-40+ kts will also support the potential for occasional

gusts to 30-35 mph, especially across the southern portions of the

Elevated highlights. 



...Eastern Arizona into western New Mexico...

A backdoor cold front is forecast to move south-southwestward

through portions of the Southwest on Friday. Latest guidance

indicates southeasterly winds will strengthen to 15-25 mph across

portions of eastern Arizona and western New Mexico following the

frontal passage, especially in the vicinity of the White Mountains

and Gila Region. While RH values are forecast to increase behind the

front, there may be a brief period of time where the increased winds

overlap lingering low RH of 15-20%, supporting the potential for

localized elevated fire weather concerns. Uncertainty regarding the

timing of the frontal passage as well as the duration of overlap of

winds/RH precludes the addition of Elevated highlights at this time,

but trends will continue to be monitored.



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



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