…CRITICAL FIRE DANGER POSSIBLE FOR LINCOLN NATIONAL FOREST ON
SATURDAY…
.Strong west flow aloft will induce a lee surface low over
northeast New Mexico Saturday afternoon, causing breezy west
winds across most of central and southern New Mexico. These winds
will peak mid-afternoon with gusty conditions over the elevated
terrain of the Sacramento and Capitan Mountains. Winds will
combine with very dry air and critically dry fuels. The ongoing
extended period of critically dry conditions and poor overnight
RH recoveries has ERC values above the 90th percentile, thus any
fires that develop are likely to spread quickly. While these
winds will not be nearly as extreme as last Tuesday’s high wind
event, any breezy conditions combined with the critically dry air
and fuels will lead to high fire danger..
* AFFECTED AREA…Fire Weather Zone 113 Capitan and Sacramento
Mountains/Lincoln NF/LNZ.
* TIMING…Saturday afternoon and evening.
* WINDS…West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…8 to 15 percent.
* EXPERIMENTAL RFTI…4 to 6 or Near Critical to Critical
* IMPACTS…any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.