Fire Weather Watch issued May 16 at 12:41PM MDT until May 18 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM

…CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS…

.Strong southwest flow aloft crossing the Southern Rockies will
induce low surface pressure over the southern High Plains Saturday
and Sunday. Subsequent tightening of the surface pressure
gradient will increase winds area wide from the west-southwest
beginning on Saturday. Strongest winds are forecast to occur
Sunday and Monday afternoons. Very dry air remains in place while
winds increase, creating critical fire danger for much of
southern New Mexico and far west Texas. Fuel dryness is near
normal for mid-May, but weather conditions will be favorable for
rapid drying of fine fuels and increasing ERCs back above seasonal
normals through the weekend.

The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa has
issued a Red Flag Warning for south-central New Mexico, which is
in effect from 1 PM to 7 PM MDT Saturday.

* AFFECTED AREA…Fire Weather Zone 112 South Central Lowlands and
Southern Rio Grande Valley/BLM/GLZ and Fire Weather Zone 113
Capitan and Sacramento Mountains/Lincoln NF/LNZ.

* WINDS…For Saturday, southwest 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35
mph. For Sunday, southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…As low as 5 percent.

* EXPERIMENTAL RFTI…For Saturday, 4 to 6 or Near Critical to
Critical. For Sunday, 5 to 8 or Critical to Extreme.

* IMPACTS…Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.