Fire Weather Program Information

Heavy Snow in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest; Severe Thunderstorms in the Southern U.S.

In the north-central U.S., a storm will bring heavy snow and gusty to high winds over parts of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest today before moving across the Great Lakes with heavy lake effect snow Wednesday into Thanksgiving Day. Isolated severe thunderstorms are likely across parts of the Southeast/Deep South, mainly from this morning into early evening. Read More >

Fire Weather Planning Forecast for the State of Hawai`i

The primary use of the daily Fire Weather Planning Forecast is for fire pre-suppression activities and planning. Issued daily at 5:30 AM HST, this product includes:

Discussion including meteorological features influencing the weather statewide.

Forecasts:

Sky cover and weather

Common sky cover terms
Day Only	Day or Night	Predominant Sky Condition
Cloudy	Cloudy	8/8 Opaque Clouds
Mostly Cloudy, or Considerable Cloudiness	Mostly Cloudy, or Considerable Cloudiness	6/8 to 7/8 Opaque Clouds
Partly Sunny	Partly Cloudy	3/8 to 5/8 Opaque Clouds
Mostly Sunny	Mostly Clear	1/8 to 2/8 Opaque Clouds
Sunny	Clear	0/8 Opaque Clouds

Weather qualifiers for rain or thunderstorm likelihood
Qualifying term	Areal coverage term	Probability of precipitation (POP)
Slight chance (or none)	Isolated (or none)	10% or less
Slight chance	Isolated	20%
Chance	Scattered	30%, 40%, 50%
Likely	Numerous	60%, 70%
none	none	80%, 90%, 100%

Temperature - Forecast maximum for daytime; minimum for nighttime.
Humidity - Forecast minimum relative humidity for daytime; maximum relative humidity for nighttime.
Wind - Forecast direction and speed during the most hazardous part of the day, and generally at night. Maximum gusts and erratic winds and/or wind shifts will be given, where necessary.

Smoke dispersal (mixing height/inversion level) and transport wind

3 to 5 day extended forecast.

Red Flag Warning - issued when meteorological and environmental conditions are expected to result in extreme fire behavior within 24 hours. Red Flag Warnings will be issued as a separate product and as a headline in the daily or amended daily Fire Weather Planning Forecast.

Spot Forecasts for Wildfires and Prescribed Burns

The spot forecast is a site-specific, localized forecast for wildfires and prescribed burns. Eye-level winds are generally preferred in the spot forecast since on-site observers will report eye level winds which will also be experienced by the on-site fire suppression team.

The spot forecast includes:

Discussion of the meteorological factors affecting the particular site during the forecast period.

Forecasts:

Sky cover and weather at the site.

Sky cover terms
Day Only	Day or Night	Predominant Sky Condition
Cloudy	Cloudy	8/8 Opaque Clouds
Mostly Cloudy, or Considerable Cloudiness	Mostly Cloudy, or Considerable Cloudiness	6/8 to 7/8 Opaque Clouds
Partly Sunny	Partly Cloudy	3/8 to 5/8 Opaque Clouds
Mostly Sunny	Mostly Clear	1/8 to 2/8 Opaque Clouds
Sunny	Clear	0/8 Opaque Clouds

Qualifiers for rain or thunderstorm
Qualifying term	Equivalent areal coverage term	Equivalent probability of precipitation (POP)
Slight chance (or none)	Isolated (or none)	10% or less
Slight chance	Isolated	20%
Chance	Scattered	30%, 40%, 50%
Likely	Numerous	60%, 70%
none	none	80%, 90%, 100%

Temperature - Forecast maximum for daytime, minimum for nighttime at the site.
Humidity - Forecast minimum relative humidity for daytime; maximum relative humidity for nighttime at the site.
Wind - Forecast direction and speed of the wind during the most hazardous part of the day, and generally at night. The time of maximum gusts and erratic winds and/or wind shifts will be given.

Mixing Height (inversion level) and transport wind may be included.

Outlook for the following day, or the following night and next day.