Day 3 Convective Outlook  
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0228 AM CDT Mon Apr 06 2026

Valid 081200Z - 091200Z

...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
THE CENTRAL PLAINS...

...SUMMARY...
Thunderstorms with isolated large hail will be possible in parts of
the central Plains Wednesday night.

...Central Plains...
An upper-level trough will move eastward across the north-central
U.S. on Wednesday, as low-level moisture advection takes place in
the southern and central Plains. At the surface, a cold front from
will advance southward into the central Plains. By Wednesday
evening, the front is forecast to stall over northern Kansas, with
scattered thunderstorms developing near and to the northern
boundary. NAM forecast soundings in the vicinity of the front late
Wednesday evening have a low-level temperature inversion with MUCAPE
near 1200 J/kg. 700-500 mb lapse rates are forecast around 8 C/km
with effective shear near 40 knots. This environment should support
a threat for isolated large hail with elevated supercells. The
threat may continue into the overnight period, as a low-level jet
strengthens.

..Broyles.. 04/06/2026

Day 4-8 Convective Outlook  
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0334 AM CDT Mon Apr 06 2026

Valid 091200Z - 141200Z

...DISCUSSION...
...Thursday/Day 4 to Saturday/Day 6...
From Thursday to Saturday, mid-level flow over the south-central
U.S. is forecast to gradually transition from westerly to
southwesterly. In response, low-level moisture advection will likely
take place in the southern and central Plains. Isolated severe
storms will be possible near a front in the central Plains from late
Thursday afternoon into the early overnight period, as a low-level
jet strengthens. On Friday, weak instability is forecast to develop
over much of the southern Plains. Isolated to scattered
thunderstorms will be possible in the afternoon and evening across
parts of this airmass. An isolated severe threat may develop in some
areas, but deep-layer shear is forecast to be relatively weak over
much of the southern Plains, suggesting a more localized severe
potential.

On Saturday, the potential for severe storms is expected to increase
over parts of southern High Plains, as mid-level southwesterly flow
strengthens. Model consensus suggests that the greatest severe
threat potential will be over parts of west Texas, where some models
have an axis of moderate instability in place by late Saturday
afternoon. Supercells with large hail and severe wind gusts will be
possible in the afternoon and evening, with storms that develop near
this instability axis.

...Sunday/Day 7 and Monday/Day 8...
On Sunday, an upper-level low and an associated trough is forecast
to move eastward across the Desert Southwest and northern Mexico.
Ahead of this trough, moderate instability is forecast to develop by
Sunday afternoon over much of the southern High Plains. Scattered
severe storms would be possible to the east of a west Texas dryline
in the afternoon and evening. A severe threat should continue into
the overnight as a low-level jet strengthens ahead of the
approaching trough.

On Monday, the upper-level trough is forecast to move quickly
northeastward across the central U.S, with an axis of moisture and
instability located in the Great Plains. Scattered severe storms
will be possible from Monday into Monday night from the southern
Plains northward into Upper Midwest. At this extended range, there
is still considerable uncertainty concerning the timing of the
trough. For this reason, will hold off on a threat area until the
models show better agreement.

Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook  
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0213 AM CDT Mon Apr 06 2026

Valid 061200Z - 071200Z

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL/SOUTHERN
HIGH PLAINS...

...Synopsis...
Upper-level ridging over the West will begin to dampen today ahead
of an incoming mid-level trough shifting into the Pacific Northwest
and as a second, more subtle, mid-level shortwave trough traverses
eastward over the Southwest. Concurrently, longwave troughing will
persist across the Northeast, with a cold front progressing slowly
southward across the central Great Plains and Midwest.

...Portions of the central/southern High Plains...
Surface high pressure across the southern Great Plains in tandem
with a surface low forecast to strengthen over eastern Colorado will
promote a tightened pressure gradient across portions of the
central/southern High Plains today. Sustained south-southwesterly
surface winds of 20-25 mph are forecast to overlap very low RH of
10-15% for several hours this afternoon. With dry conditions across
the region on Sunday helping to further pre-condition already
receptive fuels, this combination of wind/RH is expected to support
Critical fire weather conditions across the western Oklahoma
Panhandle, northern Texas Panhandle, northeastern New Mexico,
southeastern Colorado, and southwestern Kansas. Meanwhile, sustained
15-20 mph surface winds overlapping low RH of 15-20% will promote
elevated fire weather concerns across adjacent areas of the
central/southern High Plains. 

Latest guidance consensus continues to suggest that the
aforementioned, slow-moving cold front will approach the northern
portions of the drawn area after sunset before becoming largely
stationary. Areas that do see the passage of the cold front can
expect a shift to east-northeasterly winds and at least some
increase in relative humidity. The progression of this front will be
closely monitored with future outlook issuances.

..Chalmers.. 04/06/2026

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