Fire Weather Watch

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT SATURDAY DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WEST, NORTHWEST, AND NORTHEAST NM AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS...

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT SUNDAY DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR WEST, NORTHWEST, AND NORTHEAST NM AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY EVENING DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE NORTHEAST PLAINS AND NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS...

.Critical fire weather conditions will return this weekend across most of northern and western New Mexico as well as the Central Highlands. Strong southwest winds with gusts up to 50 mph and humidity values falling below 15 percent are expected each day. Spotty wetting rainfall today and over the last few days will not significantly improve fuel dryness, with the northwest remaining the driest portion of the state. Any lightning-started fires will have the potential to grow quickly under these fire weather conditions. Critical fire conditions will likely continue across northeast NM into at least Monday of next week.

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque NM has issued a Fire Weather Watch in effect from Monday afternoon through Monday evening.

* AFFECTED AREA...Northeast Plains (Zone 104) and Northeast Highlands (Zone 123).

* TIMING...For the first Red Flag Warning, until 8 PM MDT this evening. For the second Red Flag Warning, from 11 AM to 8 PM MDT Sunday. For the Fire Weather Watch, from Monday afternoon through Monday evening.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...For the first Red Flag Warning, southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph, for the second Red Flag Warning, southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph, and for the Fire Weather Watch, southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...For the first Red Flag Warning, Relative Humidity between 12 to 16 percent, for the second Red Flag Warning, Relative Humidity between 10 to 14 percent, and for the Fire Weather Watch, Relative Humidity between 9 to 13 percent.

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