Contents
Introduction
General Information
Forecast Products
Weather Parameters
Special Services
Forecast Offices
Glossary
RAWS/FTS Stations
Sample Narrative
Form D-1
National Agreement
Internet Links |
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| NWS Fort Worth/Dallas |
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Joe Harris, Fire Weather Program Leader
Bill Bunting, Meteorologist-In-Charge
NWS Fort Worth/Dallas
3401 Northern Cross Blvd.
Fort Worth, Texas 76137-3610
Phone: 817-831-1157
The Fort Worth/Dallas Weather Forecast Office located in Fort Worth has a responsibility of providing fire weather information for the following counties in North Texas:
| Anderson |
Erath |
Johnson |
Parker |
| Bell |
Falls |
Kaufman |
Rains |
| Bosque |
Fannin |
Lamar |
Robertson |
| Collin |
Freestone |
Lampasas |
Rockwall |
| Commanche |
Grayson |
Leon |
Stephens |
| Cooke |
Hamilton |
Limestone |
Somervell |
| Coryell |
Henderson |
McLennan |
Tarrant |
| Dallas |
Hill |
Milam |
Van Zandt |
| Delta |
Hood |
Mills |
Wise |
| Denton |
Hopkins |
Montague |
Young |
| Eastland |
Hunt |
Navarro |
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| Ellis |
Jack |
Palo Pinto |
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Federal Land Management Agencies Served
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge)
- U.S. Forest Service (Caddo and Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands)
Red Flag Criteria
- Wind advisory winds of 20-30 mph,
- Minimum humidity levels of 20% or less,
- Dry thunderstorms, and
- Ongoing large wildfires.
Fire Weather Products Issued
- Fire Weather Forecast (product identifier FTWFWFFTW; WMO Header FNUS54 KFWD):
- Fire weather forecasts from the Fort Worth/Dallas NWS office are issued twice a day-the first issuance in the morning between 7 and 8 am and the latter an update between 3 and 4 pm. In addition to the required forecast parameters and information on any fire weather watches and red flag warnings in effect, the routine fire weather forecast offers additional parameters, including height of the mixing layer (meters AGL), mean transport wind speed (meters/second) and direction in the mixing layer, expected hours of sunshine, and fog potential.
- North Texas Grass Fire Danger Statement (CHECK DATE) (product identifier FTWFWMFTW; WMO Header FNUX76 KFWD):
- This is an event driven product which elaborates on the weather conditions which support the issuance of a red flag warning or fire weather watch. The information provided in this product should also be found in the routine fire weather forecast..
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| NWS Houston/Galveston |
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Richard Hitchens, Fire Weather Program Leader
Bill Read, Meteorologist-In-Charge
NWS Houston/Galveston
1620 Gill Road
Dickinson, TX 77539
Phone: 281-534-2157
The Houston/Galveston Weather Forecast Office located in Dickinson has a responsibility of providing fire weather information for the following counties in Southeast Texas:
| Austin |
Fort Bend |
Liberty |
Trinity |
| Brazoria |
Galveston |
Madison |
Walker |
| Brazos |
Grimes |
Matagorda |
Waller |
| Burleson |
Harris |
Montgomery |
Washington |
| Chambers |
Houston |
Polk |
Wharton |
| Colorado |
Jackson |
San Jacinto |
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Federal Land Management Agencies Served
- National Park Service (Big Thicket National Preserve)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge and Big Boggy/Brazoria/San Bernard National Wildlife Refuges)
- U.S. Forest Service (Davy Crockett and Sam Houston National Forests)
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Red Flag Criteria
Fire Weather Watches and Red Flag Warnings are issued in coordination with the USDA Forest Service/TICC in Lufkin. This is an indication that fire activity could be enhanced because of low humidity and high winds. Prescribed burning is not recommended on red flag days.
When low humidity (20-25 percent or less) is expected to combine with high winds (15 to 25 mph sustained or higher), and fuel moistures are low, a FIRE WEATHER WATCH will be issued if these conditions are forecast within 12 to 24 hours. A RED FLAG WARNING will be issued when these conditions are occurring or expected within 12 hours. We do not issue a separate product for either a FIRE WEATHER WATCH or RED FLAG WARNING at this time. The issuance will simply be headlined at the top of the daily Fire Weather Forecast.
Fire Weather Products Issued
- Fire Weather Forecast (product identifier SATFWFHGX; WMO Header FNUS54 KHGX):
- Fire weather forecasts from the Houston/Galveston NWS office are issued twice a day-the first issuance in the morning at around 730 am and the latter an update at around 330 pm. In addition to the required forecast parameters and information on any fire weather watches and red flag warnings in effect, the routine fire weather forecast offers additional parameters, including hours of sunshine, fog potential, height of the mixing layer (meters AGL), mean transport wind speed (meters/second) and direction in the mixing layer, Burn-off Temperature at 500 Meters AGL and Transport wind speed (meters/second) and direction at 500 Meters AGL.
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| NWS Lake Charles |
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Kent G. Kuyper, Fire Weather Program Leader
Steve Rinard, Meteorologist-In-Charge
NWS Lake Charles
500 Airport Blvd., #115
Lake Charles, LA 70607-0668
Phone: 337-477-5285
The Lake Charles Weather Forecast Office located in Lake Charles, LA has a responsibility of providing fire weather information for the following counties in Extreme Southeast Texas:
| Hardin |
Jefferson |
Orange |
Tyler |
| Jasper |
Newton |
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Federal Land Management Agencies Served
- National Park Service (Big Thicket National Preserve)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (McFaddin and Texas Point National Wildlife Refuges)
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Red Flag Criteria
In general, Fire Weather Watches and Red Flag Warnings will be issued when sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph or greater are expected while the region is at Preparedness Level 2 or greater. Preparedness Level 2 or higher in the Gulf Coast Area means that fuels are sufficiently dry and RH values are usually low enough (>30 to 35%) or strong winds to cause erratic and extreme fire behavior.
Fire Weather Products Issued
- Fire Weather Forecast (product identifier NEWFWFLCH; WMO Header FNUS54 KLCH):
- Fire weather forecasts from the Lake Charles NWS office are issued twice a day-the first issuance in the morning at around 6 am and the latter an update at around 2 pm. In addition to the required forecast parameters and information on any fire weather watches and red flag warnings in effect, the routine fire weather forecast offers additional parameters, including precipitation amount, precipitation timing and duration, lightning frequency, maximum and minimum mixing heights (feet AGL), ceiling heights, mean transport wind speed (miles/hour) and direction in the mixing layer, dispersion index, ventilation rate (knot-feet), category day, and Keetch-Byram Index.
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| NWS Lubbock |
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Jose Valdez, Fire Weather Program Leader
David Billingsley, Meteorologist-In-Charge
NWS Lubbock
2579 South Loop 289, Suite 100
Lubbock, TX 79423-1400
Phone: 806-745-3916
The Lubbock Weather Forecast Office located in Lubbock has a responsibility of providing fire weather information for the following counties in the South Plains of Northwest Texas:
| Bailey |
Crosby |
Hockley |
Motley |
| Brisco |
Dickens |
Kent |
Parmer |
| Castro |
Floyd |
King |
Stonewall |
| Childress |
Garza |
Lamb |
Swisher |
| Cochran |
Hale |
Lubbock |
Terry |
| Cottle |
Hall |
Lynn |
Yoakum |
Federal Land Management Agency Served
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge)
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Red Flag Criteria
RFW criteria for the Lubbock NWS office must conform to the following requirements from the Southwest Area Fire Weather Operating Plan:
- 20 foot wind speeds of 20 mph or greater
- Relative Humidity of 15 percent or less
- NFDRS rating of HIGH or greater
Fire Weather Products Issued
- Fire Weather Forecast (product identifier LBBFWFLUB; WMO Header FNUS54 KLUB):
- These forecasts will be issued routinely once a day at around 7 am. Format: Tabular with narrative Synopsis and Extended Forecast. Forecast parameters: Cloud Amount, Probability of Precipitation, Type of Precipitation, Max/Min Temperatures, Wind Direction, 20 Foot Wind Speed, Max/Min Relative Humidity and Haines Index.
- Fire/Grassland Danger Statement (CHECK DATE) (issued under the heading of "special weather statement"; product identifier LBBSPSLBB; WMO header WWUS84 KLUB):
- This is an event driven product which elaborates on the weather conditions which support extreme fire behavior. The information provided in this product should also be found in the routine fire weather forecast.
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