**NWS BOISE WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE**

**1. CHANGES FOR THE 2008 SEASON**

**NWS Boise will implement a new method for issuance of Thunderstorm Red
Flag Warnings based on EGB GACC Dryness Level Products instead of
accumulated precipitation.**

**For more information please contact Chuck Redman or Coleen Decker
at:** (208) 334-9060**.**

**2. HOURS OF OPERATION**

Pre-fire season routine product issuance will begin Monday, April
14^th^.

Fire Weather Zone Forecast will be issued Monday through Friday by 1530
MDT.

Starting dates for the full compliment of fire weather products
(including NFDRS forecasts and twice-daily zone forecasts) will depend
on variables such as fuel dryness and customer needs.

Staff meteorologists are available any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. The fire weather desk is staffed from 830 am to 430 pm.

**3. STAFF AND CONTACT INFORMATION** - See Appendix A.

**4**. **FIRE WEATHER SERVICES**

A.  **Description of the Boise Fire Weather District within the Eastern
    Great Basin:**

![](media/image1.png){width="2.125in" height="2.310416666666667in"} West
Central Idaho Mountains\...

Zone 400 -- Northern Boise BLM

Zone 401 -- Western Payette NF and SITPA

> Zone 402 -- Eastern Payette NF
>
> Zone 403 -- Northern Boise NF
>
> Zone 404 -- Southern Boise NF

Southwest Idaho

Zone 408 -- Treasure Valley

Zone 418 -- Shoshone BLM

Zone 419 -- Owyhee Mountains

**B**. **Basic Meteorological Services**

> **Internet Briefing:** During fire season, a daily internet briefing
> will be offered each day at 0930 MDT for all agencies. During pre-fire
> season and low fire activity periods if there is not sufficient
> interest in a daily briefing, it will be held on Mondays and Thursdays
> at 0930 MDT. This briefing will include a general discussion of
> weather conditions and forecasts for the current day, as well a brief
> discussion of the extended period. Model data, satellite loops, and
> other items of interest will be addressed for the forecast period.
> During the briefing, the appropriate maps will be available at:
> <http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/boi/fire_wx_brief.php>
>
> The briefing will usually be about 10 minutes but may be longer during
> active fire periods.
>
> **Spot Forecasts:** Requests for spot forecasts will be received via
> the Boise Fire Weather homepage found at:
> <http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/boi/fwx.php>
>
> Alternatively requests can be faxed to: (208) 334-1662 or (208)
> 334-1660.
>
> To ensure receipt, follow-up phone calls are highly encouraged: (208)
> 334-9060.
>
> **C. Product Schedule**
>
> Morning fire weather forecast By 0730 MDT
>
> Internet briefing At 0930 MDT
>
> Afternoon fire weather forecast By 1530 MDT
>
> NFDRS point forecast for stations in Mountain time zone By 1545 MDT
>
> NFDRS point forecast for stations in Pacific time zone By 1630 MDT
>
> Fire Weather Watch / Red Flag Warnings Event-Driven
>
> Spot forecasts On request
>
> **D. Red Flag Events**
>
> **Interagency Coordination:** Before the issuance of a Red Flag
> Warning, there will be coordination with the affected agencies and
> neighboring NWS fire weather offices in order to assess fuel
> conditions and general fire danger.
>
> **Dissemination of Fire Weather Watches and Red Flag Warnings:** Each
> issuance, update or cancellation of a Fire Weather Watch or Red Flag
> Warning will be relayed by telephone to the dispatch offices and GACCs
> affected by the watch or warning.
>
> **Criteria for Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches:** Standard
> wind speed and gust criteria have been developed for the Great Basin.
> The following local criteria specific to the Boise CWFA has been
> developed:

-   Scattered thunderstorm coverage of [\>]{.underline} 25% when the
    EGBCC deems fuels will be critical according to the 7-Day
    Significant Fire Potential Outlook. (Brown blocks)

-   Haines 6 for the West Central Idaho Mountain zones: 400, 401, 402,
    403, and 404.

> **Verification of Red Flag Warnings and Events:** NWS Boise will
> database all Fire Weather Watches and Red Flag Warnings automatically
> through VTEC coding. Red Flag events will be manually databased and
> compared to the issued watches and warnings. Statistically derived
> values of Probability of Detection (POD), False Alarm Rate (FAR), and
> Critical Success Index CSI) will be calculated as soon as possible.
> These scores will be available to the Boise MIC, NWS Western Region
> Headquarters, and local customers including the EGBCC meteorologists
> during post-season meetings from November through January.