JACKSON, Wyo. – The National Weather Service in Riverton has issued a Fire Weather Watch for Teton County for Friday afternoon and evening, due to the combination of strong winds and low relative humidity forecasted.
The Fire Weather Watch also includes Lincoln County and Sublette County, and the National Weather Service in Pocatello has issued a Fire Weather Watch for Teton County, Idaho as well.
An upper-atmospheric disturbance, known as a “shortwave,” will arrive on Friday and result in strong winds throughout the afternoon and early evening. Sustained winds are forecasted to be out of the southwest at 15-20 mph with gusts to 30-35 mph. Relative humidity values will also dip to 15-20% on Friday afternoon.
Isolated “dry” thunderstorms are also possible on Friday afternoon with little rain expected. Storms will be capable of producing cloud-to-ground lightning as well as gusty outflow winds of up to 40-50 mph, both of which will add to the fire danger.
On elevated fire weather days with strong winds such as what is expected on Friday, campfires are not recommended, even if there technically isn’t a fire ban in place. Also, be sure to review the Teton County Emergency Management Wildfire Action Plan ahead of time in case a wildfire develops.
Alan Smith, Meteorologist
