…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 southwesterly
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.
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 today and again on Sunday.
The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.
* 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 Saturday, in effect from 12 PM to 9PM. For Sunday,
in effect from 12 PM to 9 PM.
* WINDS…West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…As low as 3 percent.
* TEMPERATURES…Up to 91.
* LIGHTNING…
* Experimental 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.