ZCZC SPCFWDDY1 ALL
   FNUS21 KWNS 030634

   Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook  
   NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
   0134 AM CDT Fri Apr 03 2026

   Valid 031200Z - 041200Z

   ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL/EASTERN NEW
   MEXICO INTO THE EXTREME WESTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE...
   ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN COLORADO INTO
   WESTERN KANSAS...

   ...Synopsis...
   A mid-level, shortwave trough currently analyzed across the northern
   Rockies will eject northeastward across the central/northern Great
   Plains today. At the surface, an associated surface cyclone will
   shift from the central Great Plains into the Midwest with a trailing
   cold front progressing southward across the central and southern
   High Plains through the period.

   ...Portions of the Southern High Plains...
   High pressure across the Intermountain West coupled with low
   pressure across the central Plains and surface troughing in the lee
   of the southern Rockies will favor strong westerly, downslope winds
   of 20-25 mph (with the potential for occasional gusts of 30-40 mph)
   along the I40 corridor in central/eastern New Mexico. With minimum
   RH values forecast around 10-15% and receptive fuels across the
   region, this will support critical fire weather conditions for at
   least a few hours this afternoon. 

   A southward progressing cold front will then bring a shift to
   northerly winds later this evening and into tonight. Latest guidance
   suggests that RH will be slow to recover behind this front, with
   spotty 15-25 mph sustained north-northwesterly winds overlapping RH
   below 20%. This may bring an extended and/or additional period of
   elevated fire weather concerns to portions of eastern and southern
   New Mexico and West Texas into tonight as the front progresses
   southward. The greatest potential for these conditions is expected
   in the lee of the Sacramento/Guadelupe Mountains in eastern New
   Mexico/West Texas and within the Jornada del Muerto and Tularosa
   Valley in southern New Mexico where terrain effects may yield local
   wind enhancements.

   ...Portions of the Central High Plains...
   In the wake of a cold frontal passage, westerly downslope flow will
   develop as the aforementioned mid-level trough begins to eject
   northeastward across the central Great Plains. Sustained 20-25 mph
   northwesterly winds (locally higher) are forecast to overlap very
   low RH of 10-15% across portions of the central High Plains,
   supporting critical fire weather concerns. The best overlap of these
   conditions is forecast to the southeast of Royal Gorge in Colorado
   (where high-res guidance depicts stronger winds owing to terrain
   effects) and into western Kansas. While RH is forecast to remain
   more marginal (15-20%) farther north in the lee of the Front Range,
   sustained winds around 25 mph (with the potential for periodic gusts
   to 35-45 mph) amid very dry fuels supported the inclusion of this
   area in the Critical highlights. Elevated fire weather concerns are
   forecast across adjacent areas of the central High Plains where
   northwesterly surface winds of 15-20 mph are expected to overlap low
   RH of 10-20%.

   ...Southern Nevada into the Low/High Desert of California...
   A locally strong Santa Ana event will peak this afternoon, with
   sustained north-northeasterly winds of 20-30 mph (gusts to 50 mph)
   and very low RH values of 10-15% traversing southern Nevada, the
   Low/High Desert of California, and the wind-prone areas surrounding
   the Los Angeles metro. While elevated live fuel moisture is expected
   to preclude widespread concerns, these conditions may support
   locally elevated fire weather conditions for areas with drier fine
   fuels.

   ..Chalmers.. 04/03/2026