…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.
…FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING FOR BREEZY WINDS, DRY FUELS, AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO…
The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa has
issued a Fire Weather Watch for portions of southwestern and
southern New Mexico, which is in effect from Saturday afternoon
through Saturday evening. A Fire Weather Watch has also been
issued from Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening.
* 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…In effect from 12 PM to 9PM on Saturday and Sunday.
* WINDS…West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 30 to 40 mph.
* 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.