…CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS FOR SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND WEST
TEXAS ON TUESDAY…
Strong jet stream flow aloft crossing the Southern Rockies will
induce a deep 980-mb surface low over the Central Plains today.
Strong west-southwest winds across New Mexico and west Texas are
expected through the afternoon and evening hours with sustained
20-ft speeds 25 to 35 mph and gusts as high as 60 mph. Relative
humidity continues to be dry, falling below 15% in the desert
lowlands and 15 to 25% in the National Forests. Mountain zones are
included in the warning given unseasonably dry fuels and ongoing
severe drought conditions. Latest ERCs are near the 90th-
percentile. Any fires that start have the potential to spread
rapidly.
Breezy winds will continue on Wednesday on the backside of the
system but not as strong. Winds will top out around 20 to 25 MPH
while minimum relative humidity values drop to the lower to mid
teens in the lowlands. Mountains will see higher minimum relative
humidity values and ERC’s.
The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa has
issued a Red Flag Warning for strong winds, dry fuels and low RH’s,
which is in effect from 2 PM to 8 PM MDT Wednesday.
* AFFECTED AREA…Fire Weather Zone 055 Texas Fire Weather Zone
055 El Paso County, Fire Weather Zone 056 Texas Fire Weather
Zone 056 Hudspeth County, Fire Weather Zone 111 Southwest
Deserts and Lowlands/Las Cruces BLM/GLZ and Fire Weather Zone
112 South Central Lowlands and Southern Rio Grande
Valley/BLM/GLZ.
* TIMING…, Tuesday afternoon through 9 PM MDT. For Wednesday
afternoon 2 PM through 8 PM.
* WINDS…West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…As low as 12 percent.
* TEMPERATURES…Up to 80.
* EXPERIMENTAL RFTI…4 to 6 or Near-Critical to Critical
* IMPACTS…Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.