National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Spot Forecasts

• Request/View a Spot Fire Forecast - Note: For Official Use Only
• NWS Des Moines Spot Fire Forecast Policy
• Glossary of Fire Weather Terms
• Recent Spot Fire Forecasts issued by NWS Des Moines
• Use this form (pdf) and then fax to us if the Spot Fire Forecast Page is not working

Forecast Narratives

• Storm Prediction Center Fire Weather Outlook

Helpful Maps from NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center)

• 10 Hour Fuel Moisture
• 1000 Hour Fuel Moisture
• Fire Danger Class Map
• Forecast Fire Danger Class Map
• Probability of Lightning Ignition
• U.S. Haines Index
• Visual Greenness Map
• Palmer Drought Index (NOAA/NWS Climate Prediction Center)
• Keetch-Bryam Drought Index

Other Links

• Interactive Fire Weather Planner - to use this planner, click on the desired parameters and select hourly weather graphics instead of seven day text forecast.
• NWS Fire Weather main page
• NOAA Fire Weather main page
• USDA Forest Service Fire Management
• NIFC main page
• NOAA Satellite Services
  • Fire Maps
  • Smoke Maps
  • Interactive GIS Display
• Eastern Area Coordination Center
• Eastern Area Fire Weather Briefing page

Glossary of Terms

• Mixing Height: Depth of the surface based layer of the atmosphere in which mixing occurs.
• Transport Wind: Average wind between the surface, or the 20 feet level, and the wind at the forecast mixing height.
• 20 Feet Wind: Wind speed at 20 feet above ground level.
• Haines Index: A stability and moisture index used to indicate the potential for fire growth, and more importantly extreme fire growth.