####018002324####
FNUS21 KWNS 291700

FWDDY1



Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook  

NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK

1159 AM CDT Fri Mar 29 2024



Valid 291700Z - 301200Z



...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR EASTERN NEW MEXICO INTO THE

WESTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE...

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR FAR SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO INTO THE

TEXAS TRANS PECOS...



An additional Critical area was added for portions of far

southeast/south-central NM into the TX Trans-Pecos region. Similar

to areas farther north, 20-25 mph sustained westerly surface winds

(with higher gusts) amid single-digit RH is expected this afternoon

-- aided by the strong downsloping west of a lee trough/dryline.

Given increasingly dry fine fuels over the area, critical conditions

are expected this afternoon. 



Farther east, an Elevated area was added along/in the lee of the

Blue Ridge Mountains, to include the Shenandoah Valley. Strong

deep-layer west-northwest flow across the terrain and an enhanced

pressure gradient along the northern periphery of surface high

pressure over the southeast, will contribute to breezy/gusty

northwesterly surface winds and 20-30 percent afternoon RH. Fine

fuels may be modestly receptive to fire-spread in this area, as it

is along the western periphery of the more-substantial QPE

footprint.



Elsewhere, the previous forecast (see below) remains on track.



..Weinman.. 03/29/2024



.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1250 AM CDT Fri Mar 29 2024/



...Synopsis...

A weak mid-level shortwave trough will move into the Plains today

with cyclogenesis expected across western Kansas. This will tighten

the surface pressure gradient across the southern Plains and lead to

windy conditions. The strongest winds are expected across eastern

New Mexico into the western Texas Panhandle where moderate (50 to 60

knot) mid-level flow will overspread a deeply mixed airmass. In this

region, sustained surface winds of 25 mph are expected with relative

humidity in the single digits. Fuels in this region were quite moist

over the past week, but several days of dry weather have started to

dry fuels, especially fine fuels. Therefore, some large-fire threat

will exist across eastern New Mexico.



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



$$