####018000271#### FNUS38 KWNS 302133 PFWF38 DAY 3-8 FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK AREAL OUTLINE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 0431 PM CDT TUE MAR 30 2021 VALID TIME 011200Z - 071200Z FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK POINTS DAY 3-8 ... CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA ... && ####018001852#### FNUS28 KWNS 302133 FWDD38 Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0431 PM CDT Tue Mar 30 2021 Valid 011200Z - 071200Z Mid-level ridging will be present for much of the long-term period. This mid-level ridge will start over the western CONUS and slowly shift east through the weekend. Some critical fire weather conditions may be possible in northern Montana/North Dakota along the northern periphery of this ridge on Thursday. In addition, weak lee troughing is expected on Thursday which may lead to some fire weather conditions in the southern High Plains. Fire weather conditions will likely be benign Friday through the weekend, but an increase in fire weather concerns is possible next week as the upper-level ridge breaks down and an upper-level trough develops in the western CONUS. However, forecast guidance is still quite different in the long term period and thus predictability is too low to add any probabilities. ...D3/Thu - Northern Montana and North Dakota... A mid-level shortwave will cross the Canadian Rockies on Thursday with lee troughing expected in Alberta. As the pressure gradient tightens in response to this lee troughing, winds are expected to strengthen across northern Montana and North Dakota. In addition, deep mixing is expected which should bring higher wind speeds through downward transport of stronger mid-level flow. Relative humidity is expected to be sufficiently dry across the region to support elevated to potentially critical fire weather conditions. The primary mitigating factor for 70 percent critical probabilities at this time is some model inconsistency in forecast wind speeds Thursday afternoon. ..Bentley.. 03/30/2021 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... $$