Red Flag Warning

Locations Affected

Cruzville, NM ∙ Bayard, NM ∙ Aragon, NM ∙ Sherman, NM ∙ Virden, NM ∙ Rancho Grande, NM ∙ Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, NM ∙ La Hacienda, NM ∙ Glen Acres, NM ∙ Silver City Grant County Airport, NM

Headline

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...
.Upper level ridge will flatten on Saturday and Sunday as an upper level trough races across the Northern Rockies. As a result, the mid to upper level pressure gradient will tighten across the region, orientated from SW to NE inducing SWerly flow aloft. This will ultimately promote daily afternoon/evening occurrences of lee-side low development over the Front Range and sufficient surface troughing across New Mexico. Thus, increasing surface and low-level winds across the area. This coupled with very low Minimum RH values and dry fuels will promote Critical Fire Weather conditions this weekend.

Full Alert Message

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM 347 AM MDT Fri Apr 11 2025 ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY... .Upper level ridge will flatten on Saturday and Sunday as an upper level trough races across the Northern Rockies. As a result, the mid to upper level pressure gradient will tighten across the region, orientated from SW to NE inducing SWerly flow aloft. This will ultimately promote daily afternoon/evening occurrences of lee-side low development over the Front Range and sufficient surface troughing across New Mexico. Thus, increasing surface and low-level winds across the area. This coupled with very low Minimum RH values and dry fuels will promote Critical Fire Weather conditions this weekend. ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT SATURDAY FOR BREEZY WINDS, DRY FUELS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR BREEZY WINDS, DRY FUELS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO... The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa has issued a Red Flag Warning for portions of southwestern New Mexico, which is in effect from noon to 9 PM MDT Saturday. A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for southwestern New Mexico on Sunday. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 110 Southwest Mountains/Gila NF/Apache NF/GLZ and Fire Weather Zone 111 Southwest Deserts and Lowlands/Las Cruces BLM/GLZ. * TIMING...For the Warning, in effect from 12 PM to 9PM on Saturday. For the Watch, in effect from 12 PM to 9 PM on Sunday. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 30 to 40 mph both afternoons. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...4 to 10 percent each afternoon, with poor overnight recoveries Saturday night and Sunday morning. * EXPIREMENTAL RFTI...4 to 5 or Near-Critical to Critical on Saturday. 4 to 6 or Near-Critical to Critical on Sunday. * 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. A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.

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