Fire Weather Watch issued May 17 at 8:15PM MDT until May 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM

…CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS SUNDAY AND MONDAY FOR
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
Sunday and Monday. Subsequent tightening of the surface pressure
gradient will increase winds area wide from the west-southwest.
Peak wind gusts around 45 mph over the high terrain, gaps, and
east slopes are forecast, with slightly lower gusts elsewhere.
Very dry air remains in place while winds increase, creating
critical fire danger for 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.

* AFFECTED AREA…In Texas, Fire Weather Zone 055 El Paso
County,Fire Weather Zone 056 Hudspeth County/ In New Mexico,
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 Sunday, 11 AM to 9 PM. For Monday, 12 PM to 9 PM.

* WINDS…Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…5 to 10 percent.

* EXPERIMENTAL RFTI…For Sunday, 5 to 7 or Critical to
Extreme. For Monday, 5 to 7 or Critical to Extreme.

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