935 FNUS21 KWNS 091624 FWDDY1 Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1123 AM CDT Sat May 09 2026 Valid 091700Z - 101200Z ...Northern Plains... Existing elevated fire weather highlights over much of western ND were expanded southward towards the ND/SD border based on latest short term forecast guidance. Sustained northwest winds of 15-20 mph in a modestly dry (RH between 20-30% by this afternoon) post-frontal environment should yield several hours of elevated fire weather conditions for far northeastern MT and much of western ND southward to the ND/SD border. Fuels remain very dry and supportive of wildfire growth, despite the cooler post-frontal air mass infiltrating into the Northern Plains. Otherwise, the forecast remains largely on track, please see previous discussion for more details. ..Williams.. 05/09/2026 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0158 AM CDT Sat May 09 2026/ ...Synopsis... Between a large-scale ridge over the West Coast and broad upper troughing over the eastern two-thirds of the CONUS, a belt of enhanced deep-layer northwesterly flow will overspread a dry post-frontal air mass over the northern Plains. Over parts of western/central ND, diurnal heating will result in a well-mixed boundary layer with 20-30 percent RH amid 15-20 mph sustained northwesterly surface winds. This overlap of modestly dry/breezy conditions over critically dry/receptive fuels will favor elevated fire-weather conditions. The Elevated highlights are generally bounded by cooler temperatures/higher RH to the east, expected cloud coverage to the west (accompanying a passing shortwave trough), and a band of ongoing precipitation across southern ND. Farther west, areas of dry/windy conditions are expected across parts of the Great Basin into the Southwest. While locally elevated conditions will be possible, fuels are generally unsupportive of large fires at this time. ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... $$