859 FNUS28 KWNS 222113 FWDD38 Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0412 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2026 Valid 241200Z - 301200Z ...Synopsis... A large scale upper trough will persist over the central U.S. and Canada border through Day 5/Sunday. Upper ridging across the eastern U.S. will begin to flatten on Day 3/Friday transitioning to fairly zonal flow through the weekend. Much of the Piedmont into the Southeast will remain fairly dry until a low-amplitude trough enters the southwestern U.S on Day 4/Saturday and traverses the High Plains early next week. This pattern change could bring some relief to the central/southern Plains into portions of the Southeast Day 5/Sunday-Day 7/Tuesday. However, in areas that do not see appreciable rainfall, fire weather concerns are expected to linger. Towards the end of the forecast period, an additional low-amplitude trough is forecast to move onshore the southwestern CONUS. Given the overall pattern, fire weather conditions should persist where fuels remain receptive. ...Day 3-5/Friday-Sunday... As upper troughing persists across the northern U.S., strong zonal flow over the Southwest will promote very breezy and continued dry conditions this weekend. With preceding days of fire weather conditions, strong westerly downslope flow and critically low RH atop very dry fuels will further exacerbate the fire environment, supportive of 40% Critical probabilities across portions of the southern Plains into the Southwest on Day 3/Friday and Day 4/Saturday. A strong mid-level disturbance is forecast to cross over the High Plains on Day 5/Sunday, resulting in lee cyclogenesis over portions of western KS and northwestern OK. Behind an emerging dryline, westerly downslope flow is expected to promote very strong winds and critically low RH overlapping a dry fuelscape. Both 40% and 70% Critical probabilities have been maintained over the southern Plains and parts of West TX to encompass the expansive fire weather threat. As the upper trough shifts east across the Midwest, a dry airmass will persist over eastern AZ into NM early next week. While a brief reprieve in winds is forecast for the Southwest on Day 6/Monday, breezy conditions may return in advance of an approaching secondary upper trough. Guidance ambiguity precludes the introduction of probabilities at this time, however, highlights may be introduced in future outlooks as a result of the overall upper pattern. ..Elizalde-Garcia.. 04/22/2026 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... $$