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U.S. & Canada 12-UTC 48 Hour Surface Smoke Forecast
Map is in operation from early April through October 31
U.S. Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
ZCZC SPCFWDDY1 ALL
FNUS21 KWNS 051515
Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1015 AM CDT Wed Aug 05 2026
Valid 051700Z - 061200Z
The forecast remains on track, and please see the previous
discussion for more details.
..Nauslar.. 08/05/2026
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1207 AM CDT Wed Aug 05 2026/
...Synopsis...
Upper-level troughing over the north/central U.S. will gradually
shift eastward into the Great Lakes region, while upper ridging
strengthens and lifts northward across the western CONUS. A dry
airmass will persist in the Interior West amid a very dry fuelscape,
with stronger flow aloft remaining over the northern Colorado
Plateau into southwest Wyoming. Elevated highlights have been
maintained where west-northwesterly sustained winds of 10-20 mph
(gusts of 20-30 mph) are likely amid minimum RH values of 5-15% this
afternoon. Farther west, daytime high temperatures of 100+ degrees F
and 5-15% RH will occur across the California valleys and
surrounding terrain. The spatial extent of sustained 15+ mph winds
for 3 hours or greater will be limited, precluding an introduction
of fire weather highlights; however, periods of onshore flow
exceeding 15 mph are possible across localized interior regions and
terrain-favored areas, supportive of locally elevated fire concerns
where fuels are receptive.
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U.S. Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook
ZCZC SPCFWDDY2 ALL
FNUS22 KWNS 051920
Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0220 PM CDT Wed Aug 05 2026
Valid 061200Z - 071200Z
The Elevated area was expanded slightly in portions of Colorado,
Wyoming, and Montana based on the latest high-resolution forecast
guidance. Isolated mixed wet/dry thunderstorms remain possible in
portions of far southern Nevada and Utah into northwest Arizona, but
uncertainty remains regarding thunderstorm development over
receptive fuels.
..Nauslar.. 08/05/2026
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1209 AM CDT Wed Aug 05 2026/
...Synopsis...
Upper-level ridging will continue to build across the western CONUS
as an upper low traverses the Canadian Prairies, permitting strong
northwesterly flow to overspread the northern Plains. Ahead of an
approaching cold front, daytime high temperatures will reach 90+
degrees F as RH values quickly decline to less than 20% and
west-northwesterly winds increase to 15-20 mph. The aforementioned
cold front will enter Montana sometime Day 2/Thursday afternoon,
though approximate timing is uncertain given varying model
solutions. As the front passes, winds will shift to broadly
northerly at 15-25 mph (gusts over 30 mph) for a couple of hours
while RH increases overnight. Elevated highlights have been
introduced across portions of the Colorado Plateau into the northern
Plains where ERCs will range from the 80-95th percentile, and NDVI
portrays a significant 30-day decrease in live green vegetation.
Prolonged above normal temperatures, a dry boundary layer, and
briefly breezy winds may encourage locally elevated fire conditions
to emerge across the California valleys and adjacent higher terrain
where widespread ERCs exceed the 90th percentile.
U.S. Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook
ZCZC SPCFWDD38 ALL
FNUS28 KWNS 052140
Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0440 PM CDT Wed Aug 05 2026
Valid 071200Z - 131200Z
An upper high is expected to remain over the southern Great
Basin/Four Corners through the weekend while the upper-level ridging
over the northern Intermountain West will flatten. Monsoonal
moisture will slowly drift west into southern California and north
into Great Basin and eventually back to the Colorado Rockies during
the outlook period. Forecast uncertainty remains regarding the
location/magnitude of both the monsoonal moisture and flattening of
the ridge through the weekend and into next week.
...Northern Intermountain West...
The upper-level ridge will begin to flatten on Day 3/Friday across
British Columbia and possibly into the northwestern CONUS, with a
higher likelihood of zonal flow across the northwestern US over the
weekend. Westerly flow aloft will increase along with a
strengthening onshore pressure gradient to bring dry and breezy
conditions to portions of the northern Intermountain West starting
Day 3/Friday. Broad 40% areas remain on Day 3/Friday - Day
4/Saturday with locally critical conditions expected in the Cascade
Gaps, while much of the 40% areas will likely experience near to
elevated fire weather conditions. Dry and breezy conditions are
likely to continue on Day 5/Monday from northern California
extending across the northern Great Basin into eastern Wyoming.
During this period, winds are likely to be west-northwest sustained
at 10-20 mph amid minimum RH of 5-20%.
...Southern Intermountain West...
Monsoonal moisture will slowly spread west/north with increasing
chances and coverage of thunderstorms in southern California, the
Great Basin, and western Colorado. There remains uncertainty
regarding the western/northern extent of the monsoonal moisture,
especially the amount and moisture duration. Probabilities of dry
thunderstorms were added to Day 3/Friday - Day 5/Sunday. These areas
were chosen based on expected low probability of wetting rainfall in
the coming days. Isolated to scattered mixed wet/dry thunderstorms
are likely farther east in Utah and Colorado, but there are higher
probabilities of monsoonal moisture persisting across these areas
with eventual wetting rainfall. Additionally, mixed wet/dry
thunderstorms are likely in the Peninsular Ranges of southern
California, but PWAT values of 1.25"+ and surface dewpoints of 50F+
along with slow storm motions may limit ignition efficiency. These
10% areas are likely to change in the coming outlooks, and Day
5/Sunday was the last day included due to decreasing forecast
confidence beyond this weekend.
...High Plains...
Dry and breezy conditions are expected across portions of eastern
Montana and Wyoming this weekend and potentially continuing through
early next week. Lee troughing and eventually a deepening surface
low on the central Plains will help increase winds amid a hot and
dry airmass. Increasing southerly winds across portions of western
Kansas, western Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma/Texas Panhandles will
likely result in elevated winds/RH. Given the potential for
thunderstorms and wetting rain across portions of these areas ahead
of time, probabilities were not included at this time. However, if
forecast trends hold, probabilities/risk areas are likely to be
included in future outlooks.
..Nauslar.. 08/05/2026
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