CRITICAL TO EXTREME FIRE DANGER EXPECTED TODAY
- Increasing mid level flow in response to the subtropical jet streak will generate a large-scale surface trough across eastern New Mexico today. Southwest winds increasing during the late morning hours and remaining gusty throughout the day will combine with very low humidity and ongoing drought conditions to cause high fire danger. The highest risk for new fire starts will be in Sacramento and Capitan Mountains and the Guadalupe Range where above normal fuel dryness and strong winds will lead to Extreme fire risk. Any fires that develop will spread quickly through forested and dense brush areas, and ongoing wildfires will be difficult to control. Overnight RH recoveries both this morning and Sunday morning will be poor. Winds are expected to drop below critical thresholds Saturday night. We will see less wind next week, but dryness will continue with little chance for precipitation.
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AFFECTED AREA: Southwest and south-central New Mexico, including the Gila National Forest. Far west Texas including El Paso and Hudspeth Counties. Please reference attached section for additional details for the Sacramento and Capitan Mountains.
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WINDS: West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
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RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 4 to 7 percent lowlands and 7 to 12 percent mountains.
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EXPERIMENTAL RFTI: 5 to 8 Critical to Extreme
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IMPACTS: any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
...CRITICAL TO EXTREME FIRE DANGER EXPECTED TODAY... .Increasing mid level flow in response to the subtropical jet streak will generate a large-scale surface trough across eastern New Mexico today. Southwest winds increasing during the late morning hours and remaining gusty throughout the day will combine with very low humidity and ongoing drought conditions to cause high fire danger. The highest risk for new fire starts will be in Sacramento and Capitan Mountains and the Guadalupe Range where above normal fuel dryness and strong winds will lead to Extreme fire risk. Any fires that develop will spread quickly through forested and dense brush areas, and ongoing wildfires will be difficult to control. Overnight RH recoveries both this morning and Sunday morning will be poor. Winds are expected to drop below critical thresholds Saturday night. We will see less wind next week, but dryness will continue with little chance for precipitation. * AFFECTED AREA...Southwest and south-central New Mexico, including the Gila National Forest. Far west Texas including El Paso and Hudspeth Counties. Please reference attached section for additional details for the Sacramento and Capitan Mountains. * WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...4 to 7 percent lowlands and 7 to 12 percent mountains. * EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...5 to 8 Critical to Extreme * IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
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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