National Fire News

High pressure will continue to amplify over the Western US today bringing drying and warming conditions. Warmer than normal temperatures are forecast for the western half of the country with highs generally in the 90s to lower 100s with the lower 110s possible in over southeast California and western Arizona. The hot temperatures will coincide with relative humidity levels in the single digits and teens in the afternoon and only poor recoveries expected at night. Conditions won’t be quite as dry over the Desert Southwest where lingering monsoonal moisture will result in scattered afternoon thunderstorms. Fortunately, the winds will be light and terrain driven over most of the West except for potential outflow winds near thunderstorms. Farther east, the main weather concern will revolve around the unrelenting heat across the Southern Plains and Southeast. High temperatures in this area will peak in the 90s to 105F with relative humidity values dropping into the mid-teens to mid 20s. No strong winds are expected in these areas; however, wind gusts of 15-25 mph will be possible over Texas by afternoon. Numerous thunderstorms are also expected across the southeast and this could produce erratic outflow winds and new fire starts over the extremely dry and receptive fuels.