News and opinion about wildland fire
In the cross hairs are New Mexico, Kansas, and Nebraska
12:21 p.m. MDT May 8, 2022
Above is a map from NOAA showing the distribution of vertically integrated smoke from wildfires at 11 a.m. MDT May 8, 2022.
Below is the forecast for smoke at 12:01 a.m. MDT May 9, 2022.
The map below shows the areas under Red Flag Warning for elevated wildfire danger.
Author Posted on Categories Uncategorized6 Comments on Lightning, rain, and Red Flag Warnings in parts of California 
So far the thunderstorms that Californians were worried about that could ignite even more wildfires did not have much effect in the Bay Area overnight. But lightning strikes were detected in the Sierras along with rain — none, or less than 0.05 inch generally, but some locations received more, as is the nature of thunderstorms.
In the Bay Area there is still a chance of thunderstorms Monday morning, with decreasing chances in the afternoon.
(UPDATE at 2:30 p.m. MDT June 27, 2020: the National Weather Service may or may not have correctly identified the red areas on the map as Red Flag Warning areas for today, Saturday June 27. We are checking to confirm. The image is a screenshot from the NWS web site.)
(Originally published at 9:40 a.m. MDT June 27, 2020)
The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings for June 27 in areas of Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Most of the areas will experience strong winds and low humidities, resulting in enhanced wildfire danger.
(Red Flag Warnings can be modified throughout the day as NWS offices around the country update and revise their weather forecasts.)
The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings for June 13 in areas of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Most of the areas will experience strong winds and low humidities, resulting in enhanced wildfire danger.
(Red Flag Warnings can be modified throughout the day as NWS offices around the country update and revise their weather forecasts.)
Author Posted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on Dry thunderstorms expected Sunday in parts of NV and AZ Lightning with little or no rain
(UPDATED at 10:54 a.m. PDT May 10, 2020)
Red Flag warnings are in effect in areas of Nevada and Arizona.
Forecasters are predicting thunderstorms with little or no rain Sunday and Sunday evening in southern Nevada and northwest Arizona. Dry lightning brings the threat of wildfire ignitions.
The warnings are in effect until 11 p.m. Sunday.
From the National Weather Service Sunday morning:
* TIMING…11 AM this morning through 11 PM this evening.
* WIND…Generally southwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 20
to 25 mph. Winds near thunderstorms may be erratic with gusts up
to 50 mph.
* HUMIDITY…10 to 20 percent depending on elevation.
* THUNDERSTORMS…Isolated to scattered dry thunderstorms with
little or no precipitation are expected to develop over
southern Nevada and northwest Arizona today, bringing the threat
of cloud to ground lightning strikes and possible fire starts.
* IMPACTS…Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
On Tuesday the National Weather Service issued Red Flag Warnings in areas of Montana, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, and New Mexico.
(Red Flag Warnings can be modified throughout the day as NWS offices around the country update and revise their weather forecasts.)
