U.S. Alerts
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U.S. Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook

   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
      

U.S. Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook


   ZCZC SPCFWDDY2 ALL
   FNUS22 KWNS 030714

   Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook  
   NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
   0214 AM CDT Fri Apr 03 2026

   Valid 041200Z - 051200Z

   ...NO CRITICAL AREAS...

   ...Synopsis...
   A potent mid-level shortwave trough and its associated surface low
   will transition northeastward across the Great Lakes region on
   D2/Saturday while upper-level ridging builds across the West. A
   trailing cold front will progress eastward across portions of the
   Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys and southward across southern
   Texas, with high pressure building into the Great Plains behind this
   front. Cooler temperatures and improving minimum RH values are
   expected to preclude widespread fire weather concerns at this time.

   ...Portions of the Texas Rolling Plains into Southern New Mexico...
   Latest high-res guidance suggests that sustained northeasterly to
   easterly surface winds around 15 mph along the southern periphery of
   the aforementioned surface high may briefly overlap reduced RH
   values of 15-20% Saturday afternoon to promote locally elevated fire
   weather concerns from the Texas Rolling Plains into southern New
   Mexico. Elevated highlights have been withheld at this time due to
   uncertainty regarding the duration of overlap between sustained
   surface winds of 15+ mph and RH values below 20% as well as the
   potential for light precipitation on D1/Friday across Texas. Trends
   will continue to be monitored for future outlooks.

   ..Chalmers.. 04/03/2026


U.S. Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook


   ZCZC SPCFWDD38 ALL
   FNUS28 KWNS 022106

   Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook  
   NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
   0406 PM CDT Thu Apr 02 2026

   Valid 041200Z - 101200Z

   ...Synopsis...
   An upper level trough is expected to traverse the upper Midwest and
   Great Lakes region on D3/Saturday - D4/Sunday. A broad ridge of high
   pressure will build across much of the southwestern U.S. bringing
   warm temperatures and mostly dry conditions through the middle of
   next week. Recent guidance hints that a weak disturbance embedded
   within the ridge may track across parts of the Southwest on Day
   4/Sunday. Ample south/southeasterly flow continuing through
   D5/Monday combined with elevated moisture return may encourage
   isolated convection across southeastern AZ and southwestern NM.
   Guidance will be monitored closely for the introduction of isolated
   dry thunderstorm probabilities in future outlooks as confidence
   increases. Locally elevated fire weather conditions may arise in the
   central and southern High Plains throughout the forecast period as
   dry conditions prevail resulting from the prominent upper-level
   pattern. Ensemble guidance suggests a pattern change late next week
   as a trough approaches western CONUS, which could bring dry and
   breezy conditions back to the central/southern High Plains where dry
   fuels exist.

   ..Elizalde-Garcia/Williams.. 04/02/2026
      




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