Fire Weather and Drought Information for the Midsouth

County Burn Bans / Burn Safety Information

Mississippi / Arkansas / Tennessee / Missouri

Fire Weather Notification Message - Issued by NWS Memphis to alert the public of elevated levels of wildfire danger and burn bans. Issued as needed.

Drought Information

US Drought Monitor : Mississippi / Arkansas / Tennessee / Missouri

Drought Information Statement for the Midsouth - Issued by NWS Memphis when the US Drought Monitor indicates Severe Drought (D2) or worse in any portion of the the Midsouth. Issued as needed, at a minimum of once per month.

Fire Weather Information for Land Management Agencies

Fire weather is the use of meteorological parameters such as relative humidity, wind speed and direction, mixing heights, and soil moisture to determine whether conditions are favorable for fire growth and smoke dispersion. NWS Memphis issues fire weather products generally intended for land management agencies such as the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the forestry commissions of Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri. These products provide meteorological data which help these agencies make decisions relating to controlled burns and to highlight upcoming periods of elevated wildfire danger. For more information, see our Fire Weather page.

Fire Weather Planning Forecast for the Midsouth - Produced twice daily.

Spot Forecast - Issued on an as-needed basis to land management officials in support of prescribed burn planning or wildfire suppression.

Fire Weather Watch / Red Flag Warning - Issued when wildfire danger reaches critical levels. A Fire Weather Watch is issued 24 to 72 hours in advance of forecast Red Flag conditions. A Red Flag Warning is issued when such conditions are forecast within 24 hours. Red Flag criteria are as follows:

Mississippi

Minimum relative humidity <= 25%
20 foot winds >= 15 mph
10 hour fuel moisture <= 10%

Arkansas

Minimum relative humidity <= 25%
20 foot winds >= 14 mph
10 hour fuel moisture <= 10%

Tennessee

Minimum relative humidity <= 25%
20 foot winds >= 18 mph
10 hour fuel moisture <= 10%

Missouri

Minimum relative humidity <= 25%
20 foot winds >= 20 mph
10 hour fuel moisture <= 10%