Fire Weather Watch

Locations Affected

El Paso, TX ∙ Las Cruces, NM ∙ Pleasanton, NM ∙ Silver City, NM ∙ Cookes Peak, NM ∙ Grama, NM ∙ White Sands, NM ∙ Ruidoso Downs, NM ∙ Redrock, NM ∙ Lake Roberts, NM

Headline

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS POSSIBLE TUESDAY FOR SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS...
.Approaching low pressure system moving on shore over the Pacific Northwest will induce stronger southwest flow aloft over the Southern Rockies early next week. Subsequent tightening of the surface pressure gradient will increase winds area wide. Strongest winds are forecast to occur Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, with gusty west winds midday. Drier air will also move in and create critical fire danger for much of southern New Mexico and far west Texas. Recent rains over mountain forests may reduce fire risk somewhat, but weather conditions will be favorable for rapid drying of fine fuels and increasing ERCs back above seasonal normals.

Full Alert Message

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM 108 PM MDT Fri May 9 2025 ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS POSSIBLE TUESDAY FOR SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS... .Approaching low pressure system moving on shore over the Pacific Northwest will induce stronger southwest flow aloft over the Southern Rockies early next week. Subsequent tightening of the surface pressure gradient will increase winds area wide. Strongest winds are forecast to occur Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, with gusty west winds midday. Drier air will also move in and create critical fire danger for much of southern New Mexico and far west Texas. Recent rains over mountain forests may reduce fire risk somewhat, but weather conditions will be favorable for rapid drying of fine fuels and increasing ERCs back above seasonal normals. ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT NEXT TUESDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS... * AFFECTED AREA...In Texas, Fire Weather Zone 055 El Paso County. In New Mexico, Fire Weather Zone 110 Southwest Mountains/Gila NF/Apache NF/GLZ, Fire Weather Zone 111 Southwest Deserts and Lowlands/Las Cruces BLM/GLZ, Fire Weather Zone 112 South Central Lowlands and Southern Rio Grande Valley/BLM/GLZ and Fire Weather Zone 113 Capitan and Sacramento Mountains/Lincoln NF/LNZ. * WINDS...West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...9 to 14 percent. * EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...6 to 7 or Critical to Extreme. * IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.

---