426 FNUS22 KWNS 150609 FWDDY2 Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0108 AM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026 Valid 161200Z - 171200Z ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR WESTERN L.A. COUNTY...VENTURA COUNTY...SOUTHEASTERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY... ...Synopsis... An amplified upper trough will progress over the eastern CONUS as a surface low departs from New England. A substantial cold front will sweep across the southeastern CONUS on Day 2/Friday, with dry post-frontal flow bringing fire weather concerns to portions of the lower MS River Valley. High pressure building in behind the cold front along with a mid-level cutoff low over the Baja Peninsula will continue to support offshore flow and a fire weather threat across portions of CA. ...Southern California... An offshore wind event will continue through Day 2/Friday across much of southern CA, maintaining an Elevated fire weather threat. A mid/upper cut-off low over the Baja Peninsula will aid in deep layer easterly flow over the region, supporting surface winds of 20-30 mph (gusts up to 40 mph in the valleys, possibly up to 60 mph in the mountains) amid 10-15% RH. The long duration of these conditions combined with poor overnight humidity recoveries will allow fuels to become increasingly more receptive. Easterly winds will increase to 15-25 mph across the southern Sierra Nevada foothills into the lower San Joaquin Valley amid minimum RH values of 15-20%. The offshore pressure gradient will strengthen early in the forecast period, likely at its final peak before gradually weakening into Day 3/Saturday. A corridor of sustained 20-30 mph winds and gusts up to 50 mph are expected across western L.A. county into Ventura and far southeastern Santa Barbara county during the early morning hours of Day 2/Friday, supporting the introduction of Critical highlights. ...Lower Mississippi River Valley and ArkLaTex Region... A dry, post-frontal northerly wind will impact much of the Southeast as surface high pressure builds into central Plains/Midwest. Dry and receptive fuels remain across the lower Mississippi Valley where drought proliferates, with ERC values ranging from the 80-90th percentiles. Northerly sustained winds of 10-15 mph (perhaps up to 20 mph in localized areas) and RH as low as 25% will promote an Elevated fire weather threat for a few afternoon hours. ..Elizalde-Garcia.. 10/15/2026 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... $$