Tin Cup Fire /Critical Fire Weather Conditions this Weekend

The Tin Cup Fire which was initiated the end of August due to a lightning strike has shown an increase in coverage the last several days.  Following are the observed smoke from the fire from the Star Valley Ranch Cam at 4pm each day.

4pm 9/10/16

4pm 9/9/16

4pm 9/7/16

4pm 9/6/16

The video from the Star Valley Ranch cam for Saturday 9/10/16 dramatically shows the increase activity as the winds and temperatures rise during the day.

Much stronger winds along with very low humidities  on Sunday are expected prompting the Weather Forecast Offices at both Pocatello and Riverton to forecast  Critical Fire Weather conditions through Sunday evening.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
205 PM MDT SAT SEP 10 2016

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS WEEKEND...

.A DRY WEST FLOW ALOFT WILL INCREASE OVER WESTERN AND CENTRAL
WYOMING TODAY. THIS PATTERN WILL BRING DRY WARM AND WINDY
CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA...WITH CRITICAL FIRE BEHAVIOR EXPECTED
THIS AFTERNOON. AFTER AN OVERNIGHT LULL...CONDITIONS WILL REPEAT
ON SUNDAY. ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN WYOMING
WILL SEE THE THREAT FOR CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS SUNDAY AFTERNOON
AND EVENING...WARRANTING THE ISSUANCE OF THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH
FOR ADDITIONAL AREAS NOT ALREADY COVERED BY THE RED FLAG WARNING.

WYZ278-414-110900-
/O.CON.KRIW.FW.W.0029.000000T0000Z-160912T0300Z/
UPPER GREEN RIVER BASIN/ROCK SPRINGS BLM-
SALT AND WYOMING RANGES/WEST ZONE BRIDGER TETON NF-
205 PM MDT SAT SEP 10 2016

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT SUNDAY FOR
VERY LOW HUMIDITY WARM TEMPERATURES AND GUSTY WIND FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 278 AND 414...

* WIND...WEST TO SOUTHWEST 12 TO 18 WITH GUSTS TO 25 MPH THIS
  AFTERNOON. WIND GUSTS UP TO AROUND 30 MPH EXPECTED ON SUNDAY
  AFTERNOON.

* HUMIDITY...10 TO 15 PERCENT DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY.
  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW....OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES CAN
CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.