NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   0215 AM CST THU MAR 11 2010
   
   VALID 111200Z - 121200Z
   
   ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PARTS OF THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE
   VALLEY...
   
   ...SYNOPSIS...
   EARLY MORNING SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS A SHORTWAVE TROUGH OVER AZ AND
   THIS FEATURE IS FORECAST TO BE OVER THE LOWER MS RIVER VALLEY BY
   DAYBREAK FRIDAY.  AS THIS OCCURS...A VIGOROUS UPPER LOW OVER THE
   LOWER MO RIVER VALLEY WILL MEANDER OVER THE MIDWEST.  BRIEF UPPER
   RIDGING WILL OCCUR OVER THE INTERMOUNTAIN W AHEAD OF ANOTHER
   POWERFUL UPPER DISTURBANCE APPROACHING THE W COAST.  A STRONG
   SUBTROPICAL JET ACROSS NRN MEXICO EXTENDING INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO
   WILL WORK IN CONCERT WITH APPROACHING SWRN U.S. TROUGH AND LEAD TO A
   BELT OF HIGH MOMENTUM FLOW OVER THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
   
   ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA - PARTS OF THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE
   VALLEY...
   
   PRIMARY CONDITIONS: STRONG WINDS / LOW RH
   
   A DRY LOW LEVEL AIRMASS SAMPLED BY THE 00Z/11 DRT RAOB WILL LIKELY
   LEAD TO MIN RH INTO THE TEENS TO 20 PERCENT OVER THE HIGHLIGHTED
   AREA AS SURFACE TEMPS WARM AND LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES STEEPEN.  MODEL
   FORECAST SOUNDINGS IMPLY AMPLE BOUNDARY LAYER MIXING AND SHOW STRONG
   WLY FLOW IN THE LOWEST 1-2 KM...WHICH WILL LIKELY SUPPORT STRONG
   WINDS OF 20-30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
   
   ..SMITH.. 03/11/2010