June 17, 2024 - A shortwave will rotate through the western US trough today, bringing strong southwesterly flow across much of the desert southwest into the southern High Plains.

Across northern Arizona, southeastern Utah, and portions of western New Mexico, Critical fire weather is expected where afternoon relative humidity reductions to 10-15 percent will overlap sustained winds around 20 mph and critically dry fuels.

Broader Elevated fire weather concerns are expected across much of Arizona into southern/central Utah, eastern Nevada, and into western New Mexico and southern Colorado.

Elevated fire weather concerns are also expected within the Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, the western Transverse Ranges, and the southern Sierra Nevada in northern/central California where strong northwesterly flow at 10-15 mph (locally stronger in foothills and mountain passes) will overlap relative humidity reductions to 15-20 percent (locally around 10 percent). Fuels within much of this region are sufficiently dry to support Elevated fire weather concerns and recent fire activity suggest that fuels are drying quickly and supportive of fire spread.


Source: NOAA/NWS