Fire Weather Watch 13, NWS North Platte, NE

316 
WWUS83 KLBF 300414
RFWLBF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
1114 PM CDT THU MAR 29 2012

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS LIKELY FRIDAY FOR LOCATIONS
ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 83 FROM VALENTINE TO NORTH PLATTE...

.HIGH TEMPERATURES AROUND 80 DEGREES...COUPLED WITH DRY
FUELS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND WESTERLY WINDS GUSTING UP TO
25 MPH...WILL PRODUCE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS
PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA ON FRIDAY. 

NEZ204-210-301700-
/O.UPG.KLBF.FW.A.0013.120330T1800Z-120331T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KLBF.FW.W.0016.120330T1800Z-120331T0200Z/
EASTERN PANHANDLE/CRESCENT LAKE NWR-FRENCHMAN BASIN-
1114 PM CDT THU MAR 29 2012 /1014 PM MDT THU MAR 29 2012/

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT /NOON MDT/ TO 9 PM
CDT /8 PM MDT/ FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTH PLATTE HAS ISSUED A RED
FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT /NOON MDT/ TO 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ FRIDAY.
THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN NEBRASKA...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 204 EASTERN 
  PANHANDLE/CRESCENT LAKE NWR AND FIRE WEATHER ZONE 210 
  FRENCHMAN BASIN.

* WINDS...WEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH 
  DRY FUELS TO CREATE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR DANGEROUS FIRE 
  BEHAVIOR. ANY FIRES WOULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SPREAD RAPIDLY 
  AND COULD BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

NEZ206-208-301700-
/O.NEW.KLBF.FW.W.0016.120330T1800Z-120331T0200Z/
SANDHILLS/VALENTINE NWR/NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST/
SAMUEL R MCKELVIE NATIONAL FOREST-
NIOBRARA VALLEY/FORT NIOBRARA NWR-
1114 PM CDT THU MAR 29 2012 /1014 PM MDT THU MAR 29 2012/

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT /NOON MDT/ TO 9 PM
CDT /8 PM MDT/ FRIDAY FOR LOCATIONS ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 83...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTH PLATTE HAS ISSUED A RED
FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT /NOON MDT/ TO 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ FRIDAY.

* AFFECTED AREA...IN NEBRASKA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 206 AND
  208...IN PARTICULAR...AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 83 FROM
  NORTH PLATTE TO VALENTINE.

* WINDS...WEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH 
  DRY FUELS TO CREATE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR DANGEROUS FIRE 
  BEHAVIOR. ANY FIRES WOULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SPREAD RAPIDLY 
  AND COULD BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LBF

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
307 PM CDT THU MAR 29 2012

.SYNOPSIS...

A WEAK COLD FRONT EXTENDED FROM NEAR ONEILL THROUGH BROKEN BOW AT
1930Z. RECENT SHOWERS HAS CONTINUED TO DIMINISH. STILL EXPECTING
SHOWERS/STORM TO REDEVELOP EAST OF ONEILL THROUGH ORD BY 4 PM.

&&

.SHORT TERM DISCUSSION...

BREEZY WEST WINDS WITH A LEESIDE TROUGH AND ZONAL FLOW ALOFT.
SKIES WILL BE SUNNY. A STRONG WARMUP WITH HIGHS 78-82. WIND TO
QUICKLY DIMINISH BY SUNSET.

FOR SATURDAY...A RATHER SHARP TROUGH WILL DIG INTO THE WEST
COAST. WESTERLY WINDS LIGHTER AT 10 TO 15 MPH. EVEN WARMER
WEATHER...WITH 850MB TEMPERATURES OF 20-25 CELSIUS...HIGHS 83-87
SEEM LIKELY. THIN CIRRUS IS SUGGESTED IN THE MODELS BUT SHOULD NOT
HOLD BACK HIGHS.

ON SUNDAY...UPPER TROUGH WILL MOVE THROUGH THE GREAT BASIN.
POTENTIAL THE WARMEST DAY. MODELS HAVE SLOWED THE COLD FRONT
UP...WHICH SHOULNT HINDER HIGHS. FORECAST OF UPPER 70S TO MID 80S
COULD BE TRENDED UP A FEW DEGREES WITH THE NEXT FORECAST.

.EXTENDED DISCUSSION...

AN UPPER TROUGH WILL MOVE THROUGH THE CENTRAL ROCKIES SUNDAY NIGHT.
A COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP THROUGH OVERNIGHT. BY 00Z MONDAY...THE NAM
DIGS TROUGH INTO THE SOUTHERN STREAM AND CLOSES OFF A LOW IN
NORTHERN ARIZONA. THIS SUPPORTED BY THE GEM AND GFS. THE 00Z AND 12Z
ECMWF REMAINS CONSISTENT WITH A LESS AMPLIFIED MORE PROGRESSIVE
TROUGH WITHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CLOSED LOW. CONTINUE TO PREFER
THE ECMWF SOLUTION. THIS ACTUALLY GIVES WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL
NEBRASKA A BETTER CHANCE OF SHOWERS SUNDAY NIGHT THAN THE GFS.
GOING 20 TO 40 POPS LOOK APPROPRIATE SUNDAY NIGHT WITH ONLY SPOTTY
SLIGHT CHANCES MONDAY.

FOR MONDAY..HIGHS UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S. NORTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 35
MPH. UPPER RIDGE AMPLIFICATION OCCURS TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY WITH
AN OFFSHORE WEST COAST TROUGH AND UPPER TROUGH ACROSS THE
NORTHEASTERN U.S. HIGHS TO RANGE IN THE MID/UPPER 60S TUESDAY.
WARMER WEDNESDAY IN THE LOWER/MID 70S AND THURSDAY IN THE UPPER
70S TO LOWER 80S. ALSO TO REMAIN DRY TUESDAY AND BEYOND.

&&

.AVIATION...

VFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY...WITH THE
PRIMARY AVIATION CONCERN BEING WINDS. BREEZY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL
GIVE WAY TO LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS OVERNIGHT. BY LATE FRIDAY
MORNING...A WEAK SURFACE BOUNDARY WILL MOVE ACROSS WESTERN
NEBRASKA...CAUSING A WIND SHIFT TO THE WEST-NORTHWEST ALONG WITH
INCREASING WINDS FOR THE AFTERNOON. CURRENT INDICATIONS ARE THAT
WINDS WILL INCREASE ABOVE 12KTS BY LATE MORNING OR EARLY
AFTERNOON.

.FIRE WEATHER...

HIGH TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE AGAIN EXPECTED FOR
FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THE MOST CRITICAL CONDITIONS ARE BEING
FORECAST FOR FRIDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS THE PANHANDLE AND FAR WESTERN
NEBRASKA. THESE AREAS SHOULD SEE RELATIVE HUMIDITIES DROP TO AROUND
15 PERCENT WITH WINDS UP TO AROUND 25 MPH. GOING EAST INTO CENTRAL
NEBRASKA THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE LOW AS WELL...HOWEVER WINDS
ARE EXPECTED TO BE LIGHTER. WILL BE ISSUING A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR
ZONES 204/210 FOR FRIDAY AFTERNOON FOR THESE THREATS.

LOOKING TO SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...VERY WARM TEMPERATURES IN THE 80S
WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE 20S TO LOW 40S WILL KEEP HUMIDITY LOW ACROSS
ALL OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. WINDS WILL BE LIGHT
THOUGH...SO WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY STAY JUST BELOW CRITICAL LEVELS
FOR DANGEROUS FIRE BEHAVIOR.

MONDAY AND TUESDAY WILL BE COOLER /BUT STILL ABOVE NORMAL/...WITH
HIGHS IN THE 50S AND 60S. HOWEVER DEWPOINTS SHOULD DROP INTO THE
TEENS /ESPECIALLY ACROSS WESTERN NEBRASKA/. IF THESE VALUES
OCCUR...WILL CONTINUE TO SEE AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITIES DROP TO
AROUND 15 PERCENT IN AREAS. IN ADDITION...WINDS MONDAY LOOK TO BE
QUITE BREEZY TO HEIGHTEN CONCERN. WILL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON FORECAST
CONDITIONS. AGAIN...TUESDAY SEES THE UNCERTAINTY WITH WINDS AS
FAIRLY LIGHT WINDS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE DAY. A CHANGE IN THIS
COULD ALSO LEAD TO THE NEED TO WATCH CLOSER FOR FIRE WEATHER
CONCERNS.

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.

&&

SHORT TERM/EXTENDED...ROBERG
AVIATION...BROOKS

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
935 AM CDT THU MAR 29 2012

NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-301445-
SHERIDAN-EASTERN CHERRY-KEYA PAHA-BOYD-BROWN-ROCK-HOLT-GARDEN-
GRANT-HOOKER-THOMAS-BLAINE-LOUP-GARFIELD-WHEELER-ARTHUR-MCPHERSON-
LOGAN-CUSTER-DEUEL-KEITH-PERKINS-LINCOLN-CHASE-HAYES-FRONTIER-
WESTERN CHERRY-
935 AM CDT THU MAR 29 2012 /835 AM MDT THU MAR 29 2012/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND
NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE OBSERVED ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND
NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA TODAY...PRIMARILY ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY
83. THE POTENTIAL FOR ANY STORMS TO BE SEVERE IS LOW.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

THE COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WIND WILL
PRODUCE VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER FRIDAY.

LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED AGAIN SATURDAY...BUT THE GUSTY
WIND IS NOT EXPECTED. HOWEVER A CHANGE IN THE WIND FORECAST COULD
BRING CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY NIGHT AND
MONDAY. IT IS CURRENTLY TOO EARLY TO DISCERN SEVERE POTENTIAL WITH
ANY THUNDERSTORMS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT.

&&

THIS PRODUCT IS NOW AVAILABLE...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...
HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATOLOGICAL INFORMATION...AT
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/NORTHPLATTE

BROOKS