…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM WEDNESDAY FOR
THE NORTHWEST PLATEAU, WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, BASIN, AND RANGE,
MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, THE SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS, AND
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY…
.Strong winds and very low humidity will return Wednesday as an
upper level trough passing north of New Mexico steers the
jetstream over the state. A strong Pacific cold front moving
through the area Wednesday will shift winds from the southwest to
west then northwest as the day progresses. Cooler temperatures
will also arrive behind the front however the coverage of single
digit humidity will actually be greater. Winds will taper off
Wednesday evening to alleviate critical fire weather.
* AREA AND TIMING…Northwest Plateau (Zone 101), West Central
Mountains, Basin, and Range (Zones 105 and 109), Middle Rio
Grande Valley (Zone 106), and the Sandia and Manzano Mountains
(Zone 124) Wednesday from 11 AM to 9 PM MDT.
* 20 FOOT WINDS…West 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. The
strongest winds will focus along the central mountain chain.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…5 to 13 percent.
* IMPACTS…Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.