…CRITICAL TO EXTREME FIRE WEATHER FOR SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND
FAR WEST TEXAS ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY…
.An upper level trough is expected to swing through the Four
Corners this afternoon aligning the jet stream across much of New
Mexico. This will develop a lee cyclone over Eastern Colorado
while deep mixing taps into higher winds aloft. Windy to very
windy conditions will combine with single-digit lowland minimum RH
values with only the highest elevations seeing minimum RH values
in the teens. When combined with very dry fuels, critical to extreme
fire weather conditions are expected for Thursday afternoon. The
system will linger into Friday, with windy and dry conditions
continuing with very dry fuels and very low Min RH values.
* AFFECTED AREA…Texas fire zones 55 and 56, which includes El
Paso and Hudspeth counties. Also, New Mexico fire zones 110,
111, 112, and 113, which includes Hidalgo, Grant, Luna, Dona
Ana, Sierra, and Otero counties.
* TIMING…From 10 AM MDT to 9 PM MDT on Thursday and from noon
to 8 PM on Friday.
* WINDS…For Thursday, southwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to
55 to 65 mph. On Friday, Southwest 20 to 25 mph with gusts 40
to 45 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…as 5-10 percent Thursday, 8 to 12 percent
Friday.
* EXPERIMENTAL RFTI…5 to 9 or Critical to Extreme on
Thursday. 3 to 7 Elevated to Critical on Friday.
* IMPACTS…any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.