…RED FLAG WARNING TODAY FROM 3 TO 8 PM FOR THE WEST CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS ALONG AND WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE DUE TO STRONG
WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY…
…FIRE WEATHER WATCH TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM FOR
THE WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, BASIN, AND RANGE, MIDDLE RIO GRANDE
VALLEY, AND THE SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS ALONG AND SOUTH OF
HIGHWAY 60 DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY…
.Wind speeds will become strong west of the continental divide
this afternoon, then become strong areawide Tuesday and
Wednesday, as an upper level trough draws the jetstream over New
Mexico with strong and very dry southwest winds at the surface. A
gusty Pacific cold front will cross on Wednesday shifting the wind
direction out of the west, then out of the northwest late in the
day. After a high temperature around 8 degrees above the 30-year
average in Gallup today, highs will vary from near average to
around 10 degrees above across the Watch area on Tuesday, then
from 3 degrees above average in Socorro County on Wednesday to
around 8 degrees below average along the Arizona border. Wind
speeds will also weaken some on Wednesday, but most locations will
still experience single digit humidities Wednesday afternoon.
The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Red Flag
Warning…which is in effect from 3 PM this afternoon to 8 PM MDT
this evening. A Fire Weather Watch has also been issued. This
Fire Weather Watch is in effect from Tuesday morning through
Tuesday evening. In addition…a Fire Weather Watch has been
issued. This Fire Weather Watch is in effect from Wednesday
morning through Wednesday evening.
* AREA AND TIMING…West Central Mountains (ZONE 105) today (along
and west of the continental divide) from 3 to 8 PM, then
Tuesday and Wednesday (zone-wide) from 11 AM to 9 PM.
* 20 FOOT WINDS…For today: southwest 20-30 mph with gusts up to
40 mph. For Tuesday: southwest 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 55
mph. For Wednesday: west 20-30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…For today: 10-15 percent, except up to 18
percent on the peaks of the Chuska Mountains. For Tuesday: 9-14
percent. For Wednesday: 8-15 percent, except up to 18 percent on
the peaks of the Chuska Mountains.
* IMPACTS…Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended..