…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 on
Tuesday. Strong west-southwest winds across New Mexico and west
Texas are expected during 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 were not included within the Fire Weather
Watch for Wednesday.
* AFFECTED AREA…Fire Weather Zone 110 Southwest Mountains/Gila
NF/Apache NF/GLZ.
* TIMING…Tuesday afternoon Noon through 9 PM MDT.
* WINDS…West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…15 to 20 percent.
* EXPERIMENTAL RFTI…4 to 5 or Near-Critical to Critical
* IMPACTS…Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.