Fire Weather Watch
Status
New Event ExpiredStart Time
Sat 04/27/2024 02:00 PM EDTEnd Time
Sat 04/27/2024 11:00 PM EDTSignificance
WatchImpacts
Moderate impact
Locations Affected
El Paso, TX ∙ Las Cruces, NM ∙ San Antonio Mountain, TX ∙ Las Cruces Municipal Airport, NM ∙ White Sands, NM ∙ Vinton, TX ∙ Arrey, NM ∙ San Pablo, NM ∙ Alamogordo, NM ∙ Sparks, TXHeadline
...CRITICAL TO EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THURSDAY...
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ON SATURDAY...
.Deep southwest flow will increase on Thursday with the passage
of an upper level jet streak. Deep surface low over eastern
Colorado will extend a strong pressure gradient southward into New
Mexico and west Texas, leading to strong winds area wide Thursday
afternoon. West-southwest winds with sustained speeds of 30 to 40
mph and peak gusts around 55 mph combined with very low relative
humidity values will lead to critical fire weather conditions and
the risk of rapid fire start and spread through much of the
daytime hours Thursday. Fuel moisture had dried rapidly this
month, especially along the desert lowlands, due to preexisting
drought status and lack of recent precipitation. Winds subsiding
overnight into Friday morning, likely picking back up again Friday
and Saturday afternoons. On Saturday, particularly, there is high
confidence much of the Rio Grande Valley, Tularosa Basin, and far
West Texas will see critical fire concerns again.
Full Alert Message
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM 141 PM MDT Wed Apr 24 2024 ...CRITICAL TO EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THURSDAY... ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ON SATURDAY... .Deep southwest flow will increase on Thursday with the passage of an upper level jet streak. Deep surface low over eastern Colorado will extend a strong pressure gradient southward into New Mexico and west Texas, leading to strong winds area wide Thursday afternoon. West-southwest winds with sustained speeds of 30 to 40 mph and peak gusts around 55 mph combined with very low relative humidity values will lead to critical fire weather conditions and the risk of rapid fire start and spread through much of the daytime hours Thursday. Fuel moisture had dried rapidly this month, especially along the desert lowlands, due to preexisting drought status and lack of recent precipitation. Winds subsiding overnight into Friday morning, likely picking back up again Friday and Saturday afternoons. On Saturday, particularly, there is high confidence much of the Rio Grande Valley, Tularosa Basin, and far West Texas will see critical fire concerns again. ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM MDT THURSDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND VERY DRY HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 055, 056, 110, 111, 112, AND 113... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR 055, 056, AND 112... The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa has issued a Fire Weather Watch, which is in effect from Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening. * WIND...West to southwest at 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 55 mph. * HUMIDITY...7 to 15 percent. * EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...For the Warning, 6-8 Critical to Extreme in Southern New Mexico and Far West Texas desert lowlands. For the watch...5 to 6 Critical, for portions of the Southern New Mexico and far West Texas desert lowlands. * IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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. A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings. &&
Technical Header
NMZ112-TXZ055-056-251300- /O.NEW.KEPZ.FW.A.0004.240427T1800Z-240428T0300Z/ /O.CON.KEPZ.FW.W.0005.240425T1700Z-240426T0300Z/ South Central Lowlands and Southern Rio Grande Valley/BLM/GLZ- Texas Fire Weather Zone 055 El Paso County- Texas Fire Weather Zone 056 Hudspeth County- 141 PM MDT Wed Apr 24 2024