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 |
|
| NWS Midland/Odessa |
|
 |
Gregory Murdoch, Fire Weather Program Leader
Raymond Fagen, Meteorologist-In-Charge
NWS Midland/Odessa
2500 Challenger Drive
Midland, TX 79703
Phone: 915-563-5006
The Midland/Odessa Weather Forecast Office located in Midland has a responsibility of providing fire weather information for the following counties in West Texas:
| Andrews |
Ector |
Martin |
Reeves |
| Borden |
Gaines |
Midland |
Scurry |
| Brewster |
Glasscock |
Mitchell |
Terrell |
| Crane |
Howard |
Pecos |
Upton |
| Culberson |
Jeff Davis |
Presidio |
Ward |
| Dawson |
Loving |
Reagan |
Winkler |
Federal Land Management Agency Served
- National Park Service (Big Bend National Park, Fort Davis National Historic Site and Guadalupe Mountains National Park)
|
 |
Red Flag Criteria
RFW criteria for the Midland/Odessa NWS office must conform to the following requirements from the Southwest Area Fire Weather Operating Plan:
- 20 foot wind speeds must attain a 10 minute time average of 20 mph or greater (RAWS)
- Relative Humidity of 15% or less
- NFDRS rating of HIGH or greater
Fire Weather Products Issued
- Fire Weather Forecast (product identifier LBBFWFMAF; WMO Header FNUS54 KMAF):
- NWS Midland/Odessa issues routine fire weather forecast for the mountains of Southwest Texas. These forecasts are issued twice daily generally no later than 1030 am and 330 pm local during the "fire weather season". The "fire weather season" for the Midland/Odessa NWS office is considered between March 1 and November 1. In the "off season" the FWF is issued once a day no later than 1030 am local.
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 percent chance of a wetting rain, 10,000 foot free air winds, lightning activity level, Haines Indices (using a mix of mid and high levels depending on the time of year), and ventilation data are also included during the "in season".
The "off season" format varies slightly and is in support of prescribe burns. The "off season" format includes the parameters 10,000 ft free air winds, relative humidity, and ventilation data only.
- NFDRS Forecasts
- NWS Midland/Odessa is responsible for NFDRS zone 350 in southeast New Mexico and the Texas portion of zone 364, which includes the Guadalupe Mountains NP. In order for the forecaster to issue a forecast, an observation must be received. Individual station trends forecast are issued in zone 364 so there is no conflict with the zone trend forecast for 364 issued by El Paso and zone trends are provided for zone 350. Site forecasts are also provided for the Chisos Basin and Panther Junction sites in the Big Bend NP. NFDRS forecasts are issued only during the fire weather season. Additional information on NFDRS forecasts will be provided in the LAOP for the Midland/Odessa office.
|
|
| NWS Oklahoma City |
|
|
Thomas Curl, Fire Weather Program Leader
Mike Foster, Meteorologist-In-Charge
NWS Oklahoma City
1200 Westheimer Drive, Room 101
Norman, OK 73069
Phone: 405-366-6583
The Oklahoma City/Norman Weather Forecast Office located in Norman, OK has a responsibility of providing fire weather information for the following counties in North Texas:
| Archer |
Clay |
Hardeman |
Wichita |
| Baylor |
Foard |
Knox |
Wilbarger |
Federal Land Management Agency Served
|
 |
Red Flag Criteria
Criteria has not been established.
Fire Weather Products Issued
- Fire Weather Forecast (product identifier OKCFWFOKC; WMO Header FNUS54 KOUN):
- Routinely issued twice per day at 4:45 am and 4:15 pm. Includes the following parameters:
- Cloud cover,
- Max/min temperature,
- Max/min humidity,
- AM/PM wind (mph),
- Precipitation type and chances,
- Mixing height (m),
- Transport winds (m/s), and
- Ventilation rate.
It also includes the extended forecast for days 3 thru 7.
- Fire Danger Statement (CHECK DATE) (product identifier OKCFWMOKC; WMO Header FXUS76 KOUN):
- Fire Danger Statements are issued on an as needed basis, when there is either a very high or extreme fire danger. These conditions are determined and are based on stage of vegetation, expected afternoon high temperature, afternoon minimum relative humidity and daytime wind speed. Also included in the product are any burning bans that may be currently in effect.
|
|
| NWS San Angelo |
|
|
Phil Baker, Fire Weather Program Leader
Shirley Matejka, Meteorologist-In-Charge
NWS San Angelo
7654 Knickerbocker Road
San Angelo, TX 76904-7892
Phone: 915-944-0526
The San Angelo Weather Forecast Office located in San Angelo has a responsibility of providing fire weather information for the following counties in West Central Texas:
| Brown |
Fisher |
McCulloch |
Shackelford |
| Callahan |
Haskell |
Menard |
Sterling |
| Coke |
Irion |
Nolan |
Sutton |
| Coleman |
Jones |
Runnels |
Taylor |
| Concho |
Kimble |
San Saba |
Throckmorton |
| Crockett |
Mason |
Schleicher |
Tom Green |
Federal Land Management Agency Served
- United States Department of Agriculture (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
|
 |
Red Flag Criteria
Red Flag Warnings are issued when minimum afternoon relative humidity is forecast to fall below 20 percent and sustained 20 foot winds equal or exceed 18 mph (25 mph at the 33 foot ASOS anemometer level). Sufficient dead fuel availability is also a requirement.
Fire Weather Products Issued
- Fire Weather Forecast (product identifier LBBFWFSJT; WMO Header FNUS54 KSJT):
- Routinely issued every day of the year. Issuance times: 5 AM Central Time; updated 2 PM Central Time. Format: Tabular with Synopsis and narrative Extended Forecast. Forecast parameters: Cloud Amount, Probability of Precipitation, Precipitation Type, Max/Min Temperature, Wind Direction, 20 Foot Wind Speed, Max/Min Relative Humidity, Mixing Height, Transport Direction, Transport Speed.
|
|
| NWS Shreveport |
|
|
Bill Adams, Fire Weather Program Leader
Lee Harrison, Meteorologist-In-Charge
NWS Shreveport
5655 Hollywood Ave.
Shreveport, LA 71109-7750
Phone: 318-635-9398
The Shreveport Weather Forecast Office located in Shreveport, LA has a responsibility of providing fire weather information for the following counties in East Texas:
| Angelina |
Gregg |
Red River |
Titus |
| Bowie |
Harrison |
Rusk |
Upshur |
| Camp |
Marion |
Sabine |
Wood |
| Cass |
Morris |
San Augustine |
|
| Cherokee |
Nacogdoches |
Shelby |
|
| Franklin |
Panola |
Smith |
|
Federal Land Management Agency Served
- U.S. Forest Service (Angelina and Sabine National Forests)
Red Flag Criteria
Weather conditions which warrant issuance of these products are strong wind with low relative humidity (generally 25 mph or higher with less than 25 percent relative humidity), lightning risk, and fire danger in the high or extreme categories.
|
 |
Fire Weather Products Issued
- Fire Weather Forecast (product identifier NEWFWFSHV; WMO Header FNUS54 KSHV):
- Fire weather forecasts from the Shreveport NWS office are issued twice a day; the first issuance in the morning at around 7:00 am and the latter an update at around 3:00 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 duration, 500 m/1700 ft mixing height temperatures, maximum and minimum mixing heights (meters and feet MSL), mean transport wind speed (meters/second and miles/hour) and direction in the mixing layer, ventilation index, and category day.
|
|
|
