Forecast Preparation

A Fireweather Forecast that supplements the public zone forecasts is sent into WIMS (WEATHER INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM) through AWIPS and into the World Wide Web. The region is divided into 8 climatologically homogeneous zones for Forestry Forecast purposes. The fire weather zones is divided into two extreme Southeast Arkansas counties...nine Northeast Louisiana parishs and forty-seven counties in Mississippi. The forestry forecast parameters are determined by our state and federal agency customers in the region.

Our fire weather forecasts serves primarily the following regional agencies:
1. United States Forest Service of Arkansas...Louisiana and Mississippi.
2. Louisiana Deparment of Forestry
3. Arkansas Forestry Commission
4. Mississippi Forestry Commission
5. National Park Service of the Natchez Trace and Southeast Mississippi
6. Regional Wildlife Refuges of the Fish and Wildlife Service

The normal Fire Danger season occurs from October through May. Ongoing site preparation and Forest management continues throughout the year. The Fire Weather Forecast is issued twice daily in the morning by 8 am and afternoon between 2 and 4 pm.

Since the Forestry SPM is not a full time assignment. The morning Fire Weather Forecast is prepared initially each day by the public forecaster using the latest available weather information. The forecast is made for three periods: Today, Tonight, and Tomorrow. The afternoon Fire Weather Forecast is prepared by the aviation forecaster. The forecast is made for 4 periods: Tonight, Tommorrow, Tomorrow Night, and the next Day. The extended is in each zone with surface winds up to seven days. The forecast parameters describe average conditions throughout each zone.