Red Flag Warning

Locations Affected

Albuquerque, NM ∙ Rio Rancho, NM ∙ Llano del Medio, NM ∙ Gladstone, NM ∙ Conchas Dam, NM ∙ Cameo, NM ∙ San Marcial, NM ∙ Veguita, NM ∙ Santa Ana Pueblo, NM ∙ North San Ysidro, NM

Headline

Red flag warning today 10 AM to 7 PM for the northeast and central highlands, and the northeast and east central plains, and the middle rio grande valley due to strong winds and low humidity...
fire weather watch thursday from 12 to 6 PM for the northeast plains due to strong winds and low humidity...
fire weather watch friday from 1 to 6 PM for the east central plains due to strong winds and low humidity...
another day of strong to potentially damaging southwest winds is expected today, with minimum humidities as low as 9 percent across eastern nm, where energy release components vary from the 50th to 95th percentile and a couple of active wildfires are underway. after locally critical fire weather conditions and somewhat weaker winds on thursday, wind speeds will strengthen again on friday when widespread critical fire weather conditions are expected to return to the east central plains.

Full Alert Message

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1213 PM MST Wed Feb 18 2026 Red flag warning today 10 AM to 7 PM for the northeast and central highlands, and the northeast and east central plains, and the middle rio grande valley due to strong winds and low humidity... fire weather watch thursday from 12 to 6 PM for the northeast plains due to strong winds and low humidity... fire weather watch friday from 1 to 6 PM for the east central plains due to strong winds and low humidity... another day of strong to potentially damaging southwest winds is expected today, with minimum humidities as low as 9 percent across eastern nm, where energy release components vary from the 50th to 95th percentile and a couple of active wildfires are underway. after locally critical fire weather conditions and somewhat weaker winds on thursday, wind speeds will strengthen again on friday when widespread critical fire weather conditions are expected to return to the east central plains. ...red flag warning remains in effect until 7 PM MST this evening... * area and timing, middle rio grande valley (zone 106), northeast highlands (zone 123), and central highlands (zone 125), today until 7 PM MST. * 20 foot winds, southwest 25 to 40 mph with gusts from 45 to 55 mph. * relative humidity, bottoming out between 12 to 20 percent. * impacts, any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. outdoor burning is not recommended. precautionary/preparedness actions... please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this red flag warning.

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