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FNUS21 KWNS 250736

FWDDY1



Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook  

NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK

0135 AM CST Wed Feb 25 2026



Valid 251200Z - 261200Z



...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PORTIONS OF EAST-CENTRAL AND

SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO INTO FAR WESTERN TEXAS...



...Synopsis...

...Central/southern High Plains...

Moderately strong northwesterly mid-level flow will persist across

the central and southern Rockies today with lee troughing in place

across much of the central and southern High Plains. The cross

terrain surface pressure gradient will support dry, downslope winds

of 20-30 mph across portions of east-central and southeast New

Mexico this afternoon. A plume of mid-level moisture will nose into

the area through the day, fostering some high-level cloud cover and

a modest increase in surface dewpoints. Given this, guidance is not

overly confident in RH dropping below 15% for more than a brief

period. However, the increased winds overlapping a dry fuelscape

will still support a period of Critical fire weather conditions

during the afternoon. 



RH values of around 20% with surface winds of 15-20 mph are expected

elsewhere across the central/southern High Plains, but locally

higher winds are possible within terrain-favored locations.



...Edwards Plateau into South-Central Texas...

A modest surface low will gradually progress southeastward across

portions of central Texas today. Winds of 15-20 mph will be possible

to the south and west of this feature. Coupled with expected RH

values of 15-20%, this will support Elevated fire weather conditions

this afternoon.



...Northeastern Colorado into southwestern Nebraska and northwestern

Kansas...

Strong northwesterly flow across the central Rockies will align with

a favorable cross-terrain surface pressure gradient to support a

strong downslope wind event across portions of the central High

Plains. Sustained surface winds of 20-30 mph are expected along with

the potential for gusts up to 45-55 mph. While RH values are

forecast to remain marginal (20-25%), the strong downslope winds

will overlap with receptive fuels to support Elevated fire weather

conditions this afternoon.



Locally elevated fire weather conditions are possible farther north

into portions of southeastern Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle;

however, such conditions are expected to be brief given anticipated

RH increases behind an advancing surface cold front.



..Chalmers/Wendt.. 02/25/2026



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



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