Critical Fire Weather Conditions Expected Across Western U.S.
Dry and hot conditions are dominating much of the western United States, with minimum relative humidity (RH) ranging from 3% to 15% in inland California, the Great Basin, southwest Wyoming, and the West Slope. The Inland Northwest and Northern Rockies are experiencing RH levels between 10% and 20%, though winds remain light for now. Thunderstorms, primarily wet, are forecast for the Front Range and eastern New Mexico, while Arizona faces pronounced drying. A major wind event is expected to develop across the Inland Northwest on Saturday, bringing strong westerly winds to the Northern Rockies and parts of the northern Great Basin. Gusts of 35-50 mph are anticipated, with localized gusts exceeding 50 mph in high terrain areas. These conditions are contributing to critical fire weather risks across the region. (Source: Incident Management Situation Report, July 31, 2026) 
