…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 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.