NWS Jackson, MS Product Guide--Fire Weather Products

The National Weather Service in Jackson issues a number of products for the fire weather community. These include forecasts for fire planning purposes, specific spot forecasts for use in controlled burns and warnings/watches for dangerous fire conditions. The page below offer a brief explanation of each product, and links to a current example of each product.

Fire Weather Forecast (FWF)	Latest Fire Weather Forecast
The Fire Weather Forecast is a forecast of several parameters considered helpful or crucial to fire weather operations. These include several indices, as well as temperature, humidity, and precipitation. The forecast is issued once each afternoon.
Fire Weather Matrix (FWM)	Latest Fire Weather Matrix
The Fire Weather Forecast is a forecast of several parameters considered helpful or crucial to fire weather operations. These include several indices, as well as temperature, humidity, and precipitation. The forecast is issued twice daily -- by 7am, and again around 3pm.
Zone Fire Weather Matrix (AFW)	Latest Zone Fire Weather Matrix
The Zone Fire Weather Matrix is a two hourly forecast of several parameters considered helpful or crucial to fire weather operations. These include several indices, as well as temperature, humidity, winds, mixing heights, and precipitation for each zone (or county). The information in the matrix is a more detailed view of the Fire Weather Forecast. The forecast is issued twice daily -- by 7am, and again around 3pm.
Fire Weather Spot Forecast (FWS)	Fire Weather Spot Forecast Page
A Fire Weather Spot Forecast is issued per the request of a forestry official needing specific weather information for a specific location. This information is usually requested for a controlled burn but may also be requested in the event of an unintentional fire.
Red Flag Warning (RFW)	Latest Red Flag Warning/Fire Weather Watch
Red Flag Warnings are considered when critical meteorological conditions develop which could lead to extensive wildfire occurrences. A Red Flag Warning is issued to warn of impending or actual occurrence of a red flag event (which is a threat to life and property from fire). The following criteria is used to issue both a Red Flag Warning and a Fire Weather Watch. Mississippi: Relative Humidity less than or equal to 25% AND 20 foot wind speeds of greater than or equal to 15mph. Louisiana: Keetch-Byram Drought Indices of greater than 700 AND Relative Humidity less than 25% AND Wind speed of greater than or equal to 14mph. Arkansas: Relative Humidity less than 25% 20 foot wind speeds of greater than or equal to 14mph Fuels critically dry, 10 hour fuels less than 10%.
Fire Weather Watch (RFW)	Latest Red Flag Warning/Fire Weather Watch
A Fire Weather Watch is issued to advise of high fire danger for the fire districts. The criteria remains the same as for the Red Flag Warning. Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches do not rely solely on the meteorological conditions, but also take into account factors such as fuel moisture, extent of curing of fuels, and fuel types.

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