The Hot-Dry-Windy Index (HDWI)

The Hot-Dry-Windy Index (HDWI): Background, History, and Application to Fire Weather Forecasting in the Lake States and Northeast United States

Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST
Registration: CLICK HERE

Synopsis: Atmospheric conditions can have a wide range of impacts on wildfire and prescribed fire. The key is recognizing when atmospheric conditions are such that management of the fire on the landscape could be difficult or nearly impossible to perform. This webinar will revisit and showcase the Hot-Dry-Windy Index, a tool developed to assist both meteorologists and fire operations in recognizing adverse atmosphere conditions that could have an impact. Dr. Jay Charney will provide relevant background information related to the tool, how to utilize it, and share examples that highlight its value for operations.

Note: While the discussion may center around the north central and northeast portions of the United States, the HDWI tool has relevance and applicability across a large part of North America.

Speaker: Dr. Jay Charney is a Research Meteorologist with the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station based in East Lansing, Michigan. Jay’s work focuses on the meteorological features that affect fire behavior and smoke dispersion. He uses physics-based models of weather conditions in tandem with field observations of fire and smoke to help optimize the use and interpretation of current analysis and forecasting tools for informing management decisions, and to help develop new tools for use in the future.

The Hot-Dry-Windy Index webinar is a joint venture from the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange (NAFSE) and the Lake States Fire Science Consortium (LSFSC), two members of the Joint Fire Science Program's Fire Science Exchange Network.