Update #2: Enhanced Caution Event for Wildfire ops across the Southern Plains and Midwest, and severe weather ops across portions of the Midwest and Lower Ohio Valley, has ended as scheduled.

Update#1 Enhanced caution has also been declared from 1300Z Thu Feb 19 until 1200Z Fri Feb 20 in support of Severe weather ops across portions of the Midwest/Lower Ohio Valley.

Enhanced caution remains in effect until 1200Z Fri Feb 20 in support of Wildfire ops across the Southern Plains and Midwest.

Topic: Enhanced Caution Has Been Declared

Date/Time Issued: February 20, 2026 1214Z

Product(s) or Data Impacted: NWS IT Enterprise

Date/Time Initial Impact: February 18, 2026 1200Z J/Day 049

Date/Time Expected End: February 20, 2026 1200Z J/Day 051

Length of Event: 48 Hours

Requester: NWS IT Enterprise

Details/Specifics: Enhanced caution has been declared from 1200Z Wed Feb 18 to 1200Z Fri Feb 20 in support of Wildfire ops across the Southern Plains and Midwest on Wed Feb 18 and continuing across the Southern Plains on Thu Feb 19.

This is following the Critical Weather Day (CWD) that is currently in effect through 1200Z Wed Feb 18.

Pause all operational changes. Request Regional or Center management approval prior to moving forward with any operational change. Managers should consider the critical resources outlined in the NWS IT Playbooks prior to authorizing any operational system, data, or application changes.

Please visit the CWD status page for more information:
https://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/status/cwd/

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