AREAS AFFECTED : PINE RIDGE/NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST; BOX BUTTE/SOUTH SIOUX/NIOBRARA RIVER; LOWER NORTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN/SCOTTSBLUFF NATIONAL MONUMENT; LODGEPOLE CREEK/SOUTHERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE; NIOBRARA/LOWER ELEVATIONS OF CONVERSE/THUNDER BASIN NATIONAL GRASSLAND; MIDDLE NORTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN/NIOBRARA AND CONVERSE HIGH PLAINS; BORDEAUX/CHUGWATER/WHEATLAND; GOSHEN/MIDDLE-LOWER NORTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN
...A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE FOOTHILLS OF AND
IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT OF THE SOUTHERN LARAMIE RANGE THROUGH LARAMIE
COUNTY IS EXPECTED ON FRIDAY...
A strong wind event is ongoing and expected to continue to
strengthen through much of today alongside rising temperatures
and dry conditions including humidity values into the teens. With
sustained winds of 40 to 55 mph and gusts of 60 to 75+ mph
expected alongside these dry conditions, an extreme environment
conducive of significant and rapid wildfire spread will be present.
The most likely time for stronger winds and lowered relative
humidity values will lie just after sunrise through the late
afternoon and early evening hours, with the potential for lowered
relative humidity values lingering beyond sunset due to the
expected dry flow across the region. This environment will be most
likely for elevations below 8000 feet along the southern Laramie
Range and eastwards through most of Laramie County.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zones 417, 418, 432, 433, 434, 435,
436, and 437.
* WIND...Sustained winds 30 to 50 mph. Gusts in excess of 55 to
70 mph.
* HUMIDITY...RH values 15 to 30%.
* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended. Although conditions will
be borderline in some zones, a lack of significant
precipitation combined with the very high winds in the region
will create a critical fire weather environment.