Red Flag Warning 44, NWS Amarillo, TX

058 
WWUS84 KAMA 012107
RFWAMA

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
407 PM CDT Fri Jun 1 2018

TXZ001-006-011>013-016>018-317-020200-
/O.CON.KAMA.FW.W.0044.000000T0000Z-180602T0200Z/
Dallam-Hartley-Oldham-Potter-Carson-Deaf Smith-Randall-Armstrong-
Palo Duro Canyon-
407 PM CDT Fri Jun 1 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING
FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE WESTERN AND
SOUTH-CENTRAL TEXAS PANHANDLE...

* Affected Area...In Texas...Dallam...Hartley...Oldham...
  Potter... Carson...Deaf Smith...Randall...Armstrong and Palo 
  Duro Canyon.

* 20 Foot Winds...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 6 percent.

* Red Flag Threat Index...3 to 6.

* Timing...Until 9 PM CDT.

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 favorable weather for rapid fire growth and spread. Avoid
activities that promote open flames and sparks.

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit...
www.weather.gov/ama

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
100 AM CDT Fri Jun 1 2018

.AVIATION...
06z TAF Cycle:

VFR conditions expected through the period. Some very shallow radiation
fog can't be ruled out at KGUY where soil is moist. This potential
fog should be patchy if it develops at all, so will not include
in TAF at this time. Southeast winds around 10 knots will become
southwesterly by mid morning and increase into the 20 to 25 knot
range this afternoon. Some early morning low level wind shear is
possible mainly at KDHT where surface winds are expected to drop
off beneath a 35 to 40 knot low level jet. LLWS is expected to be
marginal at KGUY/KAMA.

Ward

&&

PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 453 PM CDT Thu May 31 2018/

DISCUSSION...

A small cu field seen on satellite near and SE of Amarillo in a
weakly convergent area in sfc winds has formed in an area that
has around 1000 to 1500 J/KG ML cape and no CIN on recent
analysis. This area could spawn a very isolated thunderstorm
through the early evening hours, although chcs are very low. Will
continue to monitor.

An upper ridge will build into the area on Friday leading to hot
temps near record levels some areas although will be interested to
see how recent rainfall may impact highs. A heat advisory will
likely be needed for Palo Duro Canyon zone. A dry line will
separate SW flow and very dry airmass to the west from more srly
flow and higher moisture air across the SE. Several CAMs show
isolated TSTMs developing along an H7 theta-e axis just east of
the dryline and continue to show a low POP to handle this
possibility.

A cold front will quickly bring relief the area on Saturday with
highs only in the 80s and 90s (still above normal) along with
some gusty northerly winds. Even cooler temps are expected Sunday
and most areas should be closer to climo (mid 80s). A developing
trough in the WRN US will nudge the upper ridge east and s/wvs in
SW flow aloft will provide chcs for TSTMs Sun night through Mon.
There is some uncertainty in how much the ridge is displaced
east/south with the GFS being most agressive and capped POPs in
30-40 percent range given the uncertainty.

The ridge will build back into the area Tue-Wed limiting rain
chances and causing temps to rise well above normal values once
again. Fear this may be a trend this summer.

Fire Weather...

Gusty southwest winds and critically low RH values will provide
elevated to critical fire weather conditions for the northwest two
thirds of the area on Friday as well as very hot temperatures. While
the RFTI values are highest in the northwest Panhandles, these areas
have received significant rainfall in the past few days and weeks.
The more significant wildfire threat will likely be in the southwest
Panhandles where little rain has fallen in the last several weeks and
months and this is the area highlighted by the Fire Weather Watch
for Friday. A cold front will bring much cooler temperatures and with
lower RFTI values for Saturday although gusty winds will again
provide elevated fire weather conditions mainly for areas that have
missed out on recent rainfalls. Neither elevated or critical
conditions are expected for Sunday or Monday.

&&

.AMA Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
TX...Fire Weather Watch from this afternoon through this evening for
     the following zones: Armstrong...Carson...Deaf Smith...
     Oldham...Palo Duro Canyon...Potter...Randall.

OK...None.

&&

7/3

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
359 AM CDT Fri Jun 1 2018

OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-317-012100-
Cimarron-Texas-Beaver-Dallam-Sherman-Hansford-Ochiltree-Lipscomb-
Hartley-Moore-Hutchinson-Roberts-Hemphill-Oldham-Potter-Carson-
Gray-Wheeler-Deaf Smith-Randall-Armstrong-Donley-Collingsworth-
Palo Duro Canyon-
359 AM CDT Fri Jun 1 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Texas and Oklahoma
Panhandles.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Isolated thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and this
evening across the southeast one-third of the Combined Panhandles.
Some storms could become strong to marginally severe with strong
winds and hail as the main threats.

Hot conditions are expected today. A Heat Advisory will be in
effect for Palo Duro Canyon and much of the central north-to-
south corridor of the Texas Panhandle.

Critical fire weather conditions are expected today across the
western and south-central Texas Panhandle, where a Red Flag
Warning will be in effect. Elevated fire weather conditions are
expected across the Oklahoma Panhandle, and most of the Texas
Panhandle.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Thunderstorms will be possible Saturday afternoon through Monday
night. Some of these storms could become strong to marginally
severe, with hail and strong winds being the main threats.

Elevated fire weather conditions are possible across the
Panhandles on Saturday, and across the western one-third of the
Panhandles on Sunday.

Heat Advisories may be needed for Palo Duro Canyon on Wednesday
and Thursday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.

Area fire managers and emergency officials should be alert for
elevated or critical fire weather conditions today, and for
elevated fire weather conditions on Saturday and Sunday.

Cockrell