Otero County, NM

In effect from Thursday 04/23 9:00 AM MDT – Thursday 04/23 11:00 PM MDT

Issued by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM CDT /9 AM MDT/ THIS MORNING TO MIDNIGHT CDT /11 PM MDT/ TONIGHT FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO, MOST OF WEST TEXAS SOUTH TO THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS, AND GAINES COUNTY

FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER FROM THE SACRAMENTO FOOTHILLS TO THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS, AS WELL AS THE ADJACENT PLAINS

FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER

Winds

West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

Relative Humidity

As low as 5 percent.

Rfti

7-8 or extreme.

Impacts

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

Severity

FUELS (ERC)...50th-69th percentile...3 (out of 5).

WEATHER...Elevated...1 (out of 5).

FIRE ENVIRONMENT...4 (out of 10).

What to do

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will increase potential for fire growth.
A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.

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In effect from Thursday 04/23 10:00 AM MDT – Thursday 04/23 8:00 PM MDT

Issued by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM

CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO

A passing Pacific trough will keep the region dry and will increase winds this afternoon. These warm, dry, and windy conditions will further trend fuels drier, and will set the stage for critical fire weather conditions across the southern New Mexico fire zones. West winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 to 40 mph are expected during the afternoon. Minimum relative humidity values of 7 to 15 percent are forecast. Widespread tree mortality and die back fuels will increase the wildfire risk as ERCs climb towards the 90th percentile.

Affected Area

New Mexico Fire Weather Zones 110, 111, 112, and 113, including the Southwest Mountains and Gila NF, the Southwest Deserts and Lowlands, the South Central Lowlands, the Southern Rio Grande Valley, and the Sacramento and Capitan Mountains.

Timing

Winds increasing after 10 AM, and peaking in the middle to late afternoon hours.

Winds

West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

Relative Humidity

7 to 12 percent.

Experimental Rfti

3 to 5, Near Critical to Critical.

Impacts

any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

What to do

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

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