Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook  
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0235 PM CDT Fri Apr 10 2026

Valid 111200Z - 121200Z

...Afternoon Update...
Elevated fire weather highlights were added for portions eastern WY,
northwestern NE Panhandle, and southwestern SD. As a strengthening
surface low traverses northern MT, tightening surface pressure
gradients and surface lee troughing east of the Rockies will promote
seasonably warm, dry and breezy west-southwesterly flow. RH of 15-20
percent and sustained southwesterly surface winds of 15-20 mph
(gusts up to 30 mph) atop recently receptive fuels will promote
elevated fire weather concerns. An overlapping area of Isolated Dry
Thunder has also been introduced, extending farther into
northeastern CO and the western NE Panhandle. Large scale ascent
associated with an approaching shortwave trough is expected to
provide enough forcing in a region of adequate instability (200-350
J/kg MUCAPE) for afternoon and evening isolated to possibly
scattered thunderstorms. Provided a near 3 km deep dry sub-cloud
layer, gusty and erratic winds will further enhance the fire
environment with any new fire starts.

Isolated thunderstorms are likely across portions of northern AZ
into central/eastern UT and western CO. While elevated winds/RH and
a mix of wet/dry thunderstorms are likely across these areas,
anticipated rainfall and marginal fuels preclude the introduction of
Elevated and IsoDryT areas at this time.

..Elizalde-Garcia/Nauslar.. 04/10/2026

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0202 AM CDT Fri Apr 10 2026/

...Synopsis...
Upper-level ridging will shift from the Great Plains to the eastern
CONUS as longwave troughing shifts offshore of the Northeast on
D2/Saturday. A closed upper-level low will simultaneously approach
the California coastline while a mid-level shortwave trough
traverses northeastward across the Great Basin and northern Great
Plains. A cold front will slowly move southward across the
Mid-Atlantic while a warm front lifts northeastward across the Great
Plains. Surface high pressure will remain in place across the
Southeast and Great Lakes.

...Portions of the Great Basin...
Sustained southwesterly surface winds of 15-25 mph may briefly
overlap reduced RH values of 15-20% across the eastern/southern
Great Basin. This may promote the potential for locally elevated
fire weather concerns across portions of eastern Utah and
northeastern Arizona Saturday afternoon where fuels will have been
preconditioned by a couple of days of dry, breezy conditions.
Elevated highlights have been withheld at this time, however, due to
the potential for sporadic showers during the afternoon as well as
uncertainty regarding lingering mid/high cloud cover, which may
inhibit greater boundary layer mixing and thus temper RH reductions.
Trends will continue to be monitored for future outlook issuances.

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